It is estimated that a total of 1,701 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the Haridwar Kumbh Mela area from April 10 to 14 confirming worries that one of the world's largest religious gatherings may contribute further to the quick spurt in Covid-19 cases.

According to the statement by Chief Medical Officer Shambhu Kumar Jha  on Thursday, it comes to know that the numbers include both RT-PCR and Rapid Antigen Test reports of devotees and seers of different akharas (ascetic groups) over the five-day period in the entire Mela Kshetra extending from Haridwar to Devprayag, Haridwar

 More RT-PCR test reports are awaited and the trend shows that the number of infected persons in the Kumbh Mela Kshetra is likely to climb to 2,000, he said.

The Kumbh Mela area is spread over 670 hectares covering parts of Haridwar, Tehri and Dehradun districts, including Rishikesh.

A majority of the 48.51 lakh people who took part in the last two royal baths (Shahi Snan) held on the occasion of Somwati Amavasya on April 12 and Mesh Sankranti on April 14 were seen openly violating COVID norms like wearing of face masks and social distancing.

As seers were averse to undergoing RT-PCR tests till the Mesh Sankranti Shahi Snan of April 14, both testing and inoculation in the Kumbh Kshetra including the areas allocated to the akharas are likely to be stepped up in the coming days, Jha said.

Anupam makes big sacrifice for Cancer-fighting Kiran Kher, says goodbye to TV series

IPL 2021: Match in Delhi and Rajasthan today, learn what head to head figures say

World chess champion Viswanathan Anand's father, K Viswanathan, passes away in Chennai