The priest and 15 policemen on duty at the Ram Mandir site in Ayodhya have tested positive for coronavirus. This comes at a time when there is only a week left for the Ram Mandir Bhumi Pujan ceremony. Pradeep Das, the assistant chief priest as well as the policemen who had been engaged in security duties at the Ram Janmabhoomi complex have tested positive for coronavirus.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had recently visited the Ram Janmabhoomi complex to review the preparations for the event. The pictures taken during his visit show Pradeep standing next to the Chief Minister.
Necessary precautions are slated to be taken following this. The Ram Janmabhoomi chief priest Satyendra Das, who will be performing the proceedings on the day of the Bhumi Pujan, is also seen standing next to him. The Ram Mandir Bhumi Pujan is scheduled to happen on August 5 for which Diwali like preparations are on full swing.
Meanwhile, Ayodhya has 375 active cases of coronavirus, while Uttar Pradesh has 29,997 cases. Since around 200 people are expected to attend the ceremony strict norms and testing measures are expected to be undertaken especially since Prime Minister Modi is to attend it.