Government airs concerns of Covid 19 infection spread on seeing the revellers bathing in large numbers at Kempty fall near Mussoorie.

Ajay Ramola
GG News Bureau
Mussoorie/Dehradun/Delhi, 9th July. The visuals and pictures of tourists bathing half nude at Kempty falls a tourist destination in district Tehri near Mussoorie has instilled fear among the residents and the governments both at the state level and at the centre. The Government expressed its grave concern and used the photos of these tourists enjoying in the waterfall without wearing any mask or maintaining social distancing. Lav Agarwal the joint secretary of the union health department pointing towards the picture during a press briefing at Delhi said “Zara sochiye(just think) on what you are doing in the times when the fear of the delta variant spread persists”.
The joint secretary said that such situation should be avoided at any cost as the spread of infection in the community is linked to our behaviour. | “We are still dealing with the second wave and need to introspect if we can afford this misplaced belief that Covid-19 is over,” Agarwal warned.
Despite the looming threat of the third wave of Covid-19, videos and pictures of long queues of private vehicles, overcrowded tourist locations have raised alarm.
Agarwal referred to recent spikes in cases in some countries, including Russia and the Uk and insisted on always following the Covid 19 restrictions.
He said more than half of the COVID-19 cases reported in India last week were from two states — Maharashtra (21 per cent) and Kerala (32 per cent) — and stressed following containment measures. The official said 80 per cent of the new Covid cases in India are reported from 90 districts in 15 states and union territories, which indicates the need for focused attention in these areas. He also said 66 districts across 17 states and UTs reported a Covid-19 positivity rate of more than 10 per cent in the week ending July 8.
India logged 43,393 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of cases to 3,07,52,950, while the active cases have declined to 4,58,727, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.
The death toll has climbed to 4,05,939 with 911 fresh fatalities. NITI Aayog member (Health) V K Paul said COVID-19 in pregnant women can increase certain risks like pre-term delivery, that is why it is important for them to take vaccine.
The rush to the tourist destination after the relaxation in the inter-state movement has meant long queues of vehicles and crowded tourists spots. Most of the tourists from metropolitan cities who are under fearing the spread of cabin fever among there children have taken this opportunity to rush outdoors to the tourists spots in the country to relax in an open environment but while doing so they are posing the risk of spreading the Covid 19 virus said Jitendra Singh a resident of Mussoorie.
The district administration after the video at the waterfall became viral in social media hastily ordered to limit the number of tourists to 50 who can visit the waterfall. The DM Tehri also directed the officials to place a time hooter and sound it as the people begin to cross the time limit. It has also directed the officials to place barriers and check each tourist before they head to the waterfall.
DM Dehradun Ashish Shrivastava directed the officials instructed the officials to take all precautions especially in the places such as Mussoorie and Rishikesh where the tourist movement was high and asked to ensure that Covid-19 directions and the guidelines of the government are followed in letter and spirit. District Collector directed all Deputy Collectors to follow covid behaviour in their respective areas. He directed that masks, social distancing, especially at tourist places in the district, be compulsorily followed. He gave clear directions that fines be imposed for non-compliance of norms. He directed the officials to inspect public places, hotels, malls etc. He asked the migrants, tourists coming from outside states to obtain mandatory sampling and travel details at checkposts, airports, railway stations and bus stands. The economy of the hill state depends to tourism and the recent rush of tourists has been able to provide some relief to the local business community. The government has also appealed to the people to maintain social distancing and follow the covid protocols while enjoying their holiday in the state. The tourism experts said that instead of herd tourism the government should go for limited tourism as that will become manageable for every person concerned with the industry and help in controlling the covid pandemic.