Ayodhya gears up for mega Ram Navami mela despite Coronavirus; admins seek cancellation

Even as coronavirus cases in country has risen up to 169, district administration in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya is gearing up to hold mega Ram Navami mela (fair).  mela, draws lakhs of pilgrims from across country, will be held from 25 March to 2 April. This comes amid concerns expressed by many including chief medical officer of Ayodhya about health risk posed by a large congregation of 10 lakh devotees.

District Magistrate Anuj Kumar Jha told news ncy PTI that  Uttar Pradesh government has tified Epidemic Act and district administration is being empowered to take all steps to stop coronavirus. Jha said administration has printed 50,000 posters highlighting precautions against coronavirus and se are being pasted at public places. He added that district administration is all prepared for Ram Navami celebrations according to practice and will adopt all precautionary measures.

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Meanwhile, Chief Medical Officer of Ayodhya Ghanshyam Singh had advised that Ram Navami mela be cancelled to save public from coronavirus. Dr Vikasendu Agrawal, dal officer of coronavirus, said mass garings are impossible and risky once Epidemic Act is invoked.

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"We have closed down shopping malls, cinema halls, swimming pools, gyms and schools in state. It is very difficult to ensure that devotees wear masks or maintain a distance of 1.5 m from each or. It''s an impossible proposition," he said, adding he will talk to senior state government officials. "We will review situation on March 22 and if situation remains same n I would suggest government to avoid garing," he added.

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Reacting to se suggestions, Ayodhya MLA Ved Gupta said, "We can't stop devotees. y would be advised to wear masks and maintain a distance while conducting rituals." According to sources, functionaries engd with organising mela feel it is impossible to screen lakhs of devotees. 

Coronavirus in India as on morning of March 19

vel coronavirus cases in India rose to 169 on Thursday after 18 fresh cases were reported from various parts of country, according to Health Ministry. cases include 25 foreign nationals -- 17 from Italy, 3 from Philippines, two from UK, one each belonging to Canada, Indonesia and Singapore. figure also includes three deaths reported from Delhi, Karnataka and Maharashtra so far.

Maharashtra has highest number of cases - 45 cases, including three foreigners, while Kerala has recorded 27 cases which include two foreign nationals. Delhi has, so far, reported 12 positive cases which include one foreigner, while Uttar Pradesh has recorded 17 cases, including one foreigner. Karnataka has 14 coronavirus patients. number of cases in Ladakh rose to eight and Jammu and Kashmir four. Telangana has reported six cases which include two foreigners. In Haryana, re are 17 cases, which include 14 foreigners. Rajasthan has also reported seven cases including that of two foreigners. Tamil Nadu has two cases so far. Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Pondicherry, Chandigarh and Punjab have reported one case each.

(with PTI inputs)

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