Curfew In Uttarkhand's Haridwar After Kumbh Mela's Final Shahi Snan

Today's shahi snan, the last of four, was held after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal on April 18 to keep the Kumbh a "symbolic" affair and help protect people

A curfew has been ordered in Uttarakhand's Haridwar from Wednesday - a day after the final shahi snan (royal bath) of a mega Kumbh that has seen tens of thousands of devotees defy Covid protocol even as India fights a virus that has killed over 17,000 people in the past week alone. Uttarakhand: People take holy dip in river Ganga in Haridwar on Chitra Purnima today. The last 'shahi snan' of #KumbhMela2021 is taking place today. pic.twitter.com/rnF0UN8mU0 Only essential services will be allowed during the curfew hours, which will be enforced in the urban areas of Haridwar, Roorkee, Laksar and Bhagwanpur, the Haridwar District Magistrate said. Today's shahi snan, the last of four, was held after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal on April 18 to keep the Kumbh a "symbolic" affair and help protect people from the rampaging virus. Hours after the appeal Swami Avdheshanand Giri, the head of the Juna akhada, or religious group, said "this is the end of Kumbh" for his collective, and called on others to follow suit.