Puri: Kovid-19 has been confirmed in the investigation of a sevadar of Sri Jagannath Mandir (Jagannath Mandir). A senior official said that the matter came up during the compulsory corona virus investigation by temple priests and police personnel ahead of the annual Rath Yatra Festival (Jagannath puri Rathyatra) to be held on Tuesday. The officer said that the sevadar, who was found infected, would not be allowed to participate in any rituals related to the rath yatra.
As per the guidelines of the Supreme Court, samples of 1,143 sevadars were taken for examination on Monday night. The official said, ‘except one, the infection was not confirmed in any other investigation. The sevadar found infected has been shifted to Kovid-19 hospital.
The Supreme Court, while amending its earlier order, gave permission for the organizing of the Rath Yatra festival on Monday after the Odisha government gave the assurance. The Odisha Government had assured the court that the Rath Yatra would be organized at a limited level and the public would not be allowed to participate in it.
