All historical monuments and museums in India including the Ahom-era Rang Ghar in Assam’s Sivasagar will be closed till May 15 or until further orders owing to the second wave of Covid-19.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which looks after the historical monuments and sites in India has issued an order announcing the development.
“Due to the prevailing Covid-19 situation, it has been decided to close all the Centrally Protect monuments/sites and museums under the Archaeological Survey of India with immediate effect and till May 15, 2021, or until further orders,” the ASI order read.
Last year in March, when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, similar steps were taken by the ASI to curb the spread.
Notably, India has been hit severely by the second wave of COVID-19. India, at present, is the second worst hit country in the world after the United States.
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Meanwhile, India on Friday logged a record 2,17,353 daily COVID-19 cases as many states grappled with shortages of hospital beds, oxygen, medicines and vaccine doses.
Moreover, 1185 people in the last 24 hours have lost the battle with COVID-19.
Maharashtra, the country’s worst-hit state, reported 61,695 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the tally to 36,39,855, while 349 new fatalities pushed the death count to 59,153.
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Over 2000 people including devotees have tested positive in the Holy city of Haridwar in Uttarakhand, which is hosting the month-long Kumbh Mela.
As of Thursday night, a total of 2,167 people from the Kumbh area have tested positive for COVID-19 between April 10 and April 15.