Nagpur: After a surge in the Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra, the state government on Wednesday amended its Ganeshotsav order and stated that no ‘physical darshan’ will be allowed in the state for the same.
It further stated that people will not be allowed to visit the Ganesh pandals during the 10-day festival and can opt for ‘online darshan’ or telecast would be allowed.
In the previous circular, the state government had allowed people visiting the pandals during the festival and asked them to follow social distancing inside the pandals.
“People are prohibited from visiting any Ganesh pandal,” stated the new circular. An official said that the decision has been taken to discourage people from venturing out and exposing themselves to the viral infection.
Earlier chief minister Uddhav Thackeray also appealed to the political parties to stop their protests, meetings and other programmes to avoid large gatherings which could be a possible reason for the rise in Covid-19 cases in the state.
Thackeray in a statement said “We can celebrate festivals later. Let us prioritise the lives and health of our citizens.
The situation can go out of hand in view of the spike in daily cases.
” “Who likes to impose restrictions during the festivals and religious programmes? But people’s lives are more important,” he added.
After seeing cases being reported in double digits in Nagpur district, guardian minister Nitin Raut on Monday announced that restrictions will be re-imposed in the city to avoid the third wave.
Maharashtra on Wednesday recorded a surge of 4,174 cases and 65 fatalities with 4,155 recoveries in a single day.