Another priest tests COVID +ve in Ayodhya

The ground breaking ceremony of Ram Temple will happen even COVID-19 worries loom over Ayodhya.

An assistant priest namely Prem Kumar Tiwari has tested positive for COVID-19 on August 4. Earlier another assistant priest, Pradeep Das, had tested positive for the coronavirus. The chief priest, Satyendra Das, has been sent to quarantine after the first case was detected.

The result of Prem Kumar Tiwari testing positive means that all people who came in contact with him are being identified. Meanwhile, playing down the situation, the district officials said the government was taking all precautions to keep the situation in control.

Terming the situation worrisome, Satyendra Das said “Prem Kumar Tiwari is part of the team that conducts the daily rituals here at the site. We all stay in the same area in the mandir. I also have some other conditions and I’m not a young man”.

Atleast 16 security personnel posted at the Ram Lalla temple had also tested positive, following which all of them have been asked to isolate at home. Due to the COVID-19 situation at the Ram temple and the Home Minister Amit Shah and other prominent personalities being infected with coronavirus has led to demands to postpone the Bhoomi Pujan, which is expected to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lay the foundation stone for the construction of Ram temple.

As per the latest news, today from 2pm onwards, the entire area near the Ram Mandir area will be shut for the public in order to prevent unnecessary crowds.