By Our Correspondent
PURI/BHUBANESWAR: Shee Jagannath Temple Administration Chief Administrator Dr Krishan Kumar on Thursday came down heavily on misinformation spreader regarding Rath Construction for Lord Jagannath’s world famous annual car festival in Puri. Dr Kumar expressed his displeasure over media reports on Rath Khala and Rath Construction.
Citing a report of Mumbai based Lokmat Times, Dr Kumar requested media to refrain from such reporting on Rath Yatra and Lord Jagannath. “Everything going on strictly according to COVID-19 guidelines and nothing wrong has been allowed ,” Dr Kumar said. “The media reports of which a clip sent to me by one of my friend in Mumbai, seemed as if 3 servitors died in COVID-19 during Rath construction,” Dr Kumar added.
After reviewing Rath Construction work, Dr Kumar along with Puri Collector , Samartha Verma, briefed the media and said since May 16, Rath construction has been going smoothly. The infected servitors have been sent for treatment, he added.
Eight servitors engaged in construction work of chariots for upcoming Ratha Jatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri tested positive for COVID-19, Dr Kumar said adding of eight infectees, three are Maharana servitors and five are Bhoi servitors. Dr said that total 88 servitors had been kept in isolation for construction work of chariots. They underwent COVID test following which the results of eight came positive.
“We are going to create a bio-bubble at the Ratha Khala. We have discussed the issue with the Collector and he has decided in its favour. This is being done since maintaining social distance is not possible at the Rath Khala. We will be providing them with N95 masks instead of the earlier cloth masks and enough quantities of sanitizers,” informed Dr.Kumar said.
“As per the protocol anyone coming to join in the work at the Ratha Khala, they are being tested. It has been decided that following their testing they will be isolated and kept at the Gundicha Bhakta Nivas. Results of the tests are available in about 40 hours. Only those sevayats who test negative will be allowed to join work at the Ratha Khala. In the event of anyone testing positive, he will be shifted to the Covid Care Centre and his health care concerns will be taken care of,” the Chief Administrator explained.
The Collector of Puri Verma also visited the chariot construction place near Srimandir and asked about the vaccination of servitors as well as all facilities provided to them during the work amid COVID-19 pandemic
The vaccination of servitors in 18-44 age group is underway ahead of the annual Ratha Jatra of Lord Jagannath scheduled on July 12.The SJTA has set the target to cover 4,300 servitors in 18-44 age group within 15 days.
