Amid worsening COVID-19 situation in the country, the Niranjani Akhada has announced to curtail the ongoing Kumbh Mela at Haridwar. The Niranjani Akhada on Thursday said that the Kumbh Mela will end on Saturday (April 17), almost two weeks before from the schedule. The event kicked-off on April 1 and was slated for culmination on April 30.

After several seers tested positive for COVID-19 and many showing symptoms, Ravindra Puri, secretary, Niranjani Akhada, said that the event will conclude on Saturday.

"After reviewing the current COVID-19 situation in our camps where several seers and devotees have tested positive, the Akhara has decided to culminate Kumbh Mela on April 17." Ravindra Puri said.

Puri, however, said that the state government will take a final call with regard to the culmination of Kumbh Mela.

Rising cases of coronavirus infection in Uttarakhand have spared none with several seers testing positive. President of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad Narendra Giri is down with COVID and recuperating at AIIMS-Rishikesh while Mahamandaleshwar of Maha Nirwani Akhada from Madhya Pradesh Swami Kapil Dev who was suffering from COVID died at a private hospital on April 13.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand on April 15 recorded its highest single-day spike in COVID-19 cases since the outbreak of the pandemic with 2,220 people testing positive.

Kumbh is held periodically at four different locations in India -- Nashik, Haridwar, Prayagraj, and Ujjain.

In normal circumstances, Kumbh continues for nearly four months but this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the duration of the congregation has been curtailed to one month.

Image Source: ANI