Kumbh mela: Devotees flout covid guidelines during Shahi Snan

Amid rising coronavirus cases in the country, thousands of saffron-clad seers and ash-smeared Nagas flouted Covid-19 norms and gathered at Har Ki Pauri ghat in Haridwar for a holy dip in the Ganga during the second "shahi snan" (royal bath) of the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar. (PTI)

According to PTI, the seers of different akhadas, led by their Mahamandaleshwaras, by turns took out grand Shobha Yatras through the main thoroughfare of the pilgrimage city to gather at Brahma Kund, Hari ki Pairi for the holy bath on the occasion of Somvati Amavasya. (AP)

The mela administration claimed that approximately 17.31 lakh devotees had taken the holy dip in the Ganga till 10 am. (Reuters)

The Kumbh Mela in Haridwar will conclude on April 30 with three "shahi snan" (major bathing) dates on April 12, 14 and 27. (Reuters)

Devotees at the Har Ki Pauri ghat to offer prayers during Kumbh Mela 2021, in Haridwar, Sunday. (PTI)

Around 10,000 security personnel are deployed to control and supervise the crowd in Haridwar and Rishikesh. Uttarakhand High Court directed the state government to ensure that they use sanitisers and wear masks. (PTI)

With hordes turning up for the Kumbh mela in Haridwar amid a surge in Covid cases, the Uttarakhand Police is using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to zoom in on those not wearing masks. (PTI)

Women sanyasins of Juna Akhara take part in a ritual to become sadhavis where only some were wearing masks and being cautious, at Kumbh 2021 in Haridwar. (PTI)

Hermits perform 'Parikrama' during Kumbh Mela 2021 with no covid precaution taken, in Haridwar. (PTI)

Hermits of 'Juna Akhara' during Kumbh Mela 2021, in Haridwar. (PTI)

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat too was present without mask and did not adhere to social distancing at Har Ki Pauri Ghat. (PTI Photo)

Officials said over 350 CCTV cameras have been installed at different locations in the mela area, with about 100 of these equipped with sensors that generate an alert when the camera captures the image of a person without a mask. (PTI photo)

Devotees risk their safety in order to perform a ritual at the banks of Ganga river ahead of Kumbh Mela. (PTI Photo)

Over 28 lakh devotees turned up for the second shahi snan in the Ganga. And according to medical department officials, over 18,169 devotees were tested between 11.30 pm Sunday and 5 pm Monday and 102 were found covid positive. (PTI Photo)

Kinnar Akhara chief Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, offers prayers at Har ki Pauri ghat during Kumbh Mela 2021, in Haridwar, Monday, April 12, 2021. (PTI Photo)

Amid a Covid surge across the country and twelve days into the Kumbh Mela the Uttarakhand government is unable control and implement basic preventive measures such as effective thermal screening and wearing of masks. (PTI Photo)