Covid-19: Pune bans Holi celebrations amid surge in covid cases

In view of the surge in COVID-19 cases in the state, Pune district Collector Rajesh Deshmukh on Tuesday denied permissions for a community celebration of the Holi festival this year.

Holi and Dhulwad celebrations have been banned in Pune district. Collector Rajesh Deshmukh has announced this decision. Violation of this order will also result in legal action. The number of corona cases has been increasing in Pune district for the last few days. Against this backdrop, some steps are now being taken by the administration. As part of this, Holi and Rangpanchmi celebrations will be restricte.

According to the order, as a precautionary measure against the outbreak of Covid-19, Holi celebrations has been banned at public places, hotels, resorts, public halls, public and private spaces, open spaces in all housing societies in rural areas of Pune district, read the order by District Collector and Chairman of District Disaster Management Authority Dr. Rajesh Deshmukh.

The order also said that the citizens should co-operate with the district administration in complying with the prohibition order and if any provision in the order is violated, action will be taken against the concerned person in accordance with the Disaster Management Act-2005 and other provisions of the Act.

Maharashtra continues to report the highest daily new cases at 24,645 (60.53 per cent). It is followed by Punjab with 2,299 while Gujarat reported 1,640 new cases.