Bhubaneswar: In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Odisha government has asked the collectors to restrict gatherings during the celebration of Maha Shivratri on Thursday.
“The State is passing through a critical situation due to the detection of a new variant of SARS-CoV 2 and it is necessary to strictly adhere to COVID-19 saf
ety protocols for the containment of the spread of the infection,” said the notification issued by the office of Special Relief Commissioner on Tuesday.
It further said that the collectors/ municipal commissioners may restrict congregations/gatherings to such number as may be felt appropriate in view of the prevailing pandemic situation considering local situations/circulation space available within such temples and on their premises.
“Mela/congregations outside/within the temple premises may also be reasonably restricted so as to avoid mass gatherings/crowding,” it said.
Any person found violating this order shall be punishable under the provisions of the. Disaster Management Act, 2005 and other relevant laws, it added.