Puri’s Jagannath Temple admin plans COVID check for 2000 servitors, staff in a month

By Express News Service
PURI: Having registered footfalls of over 2 lakh devotees in simply six days after Srimandir doorways had been opened sans the obligatory COVID certificates norms, the temple administration on Wednesday launched a large check drive of servitors and employees to minimise the coronavirus menace.

The Shri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) goals to conduct RT-PCR exams of over 2,000 servitors and 500 staff in a month. It began with the servitors of Suar Mahasuar Nijog on the day. SJTA administrator Ajay Kumar Jena stated day by day swab samples of fifty servitors could be collected by well being employees. A listing of assorted nijogs has been made and the servitors’ our bodies will probably be allotted date and time for showing on the centre for assortment of swab samples.

This is the fifth spherical of COVID exams for Srimandir servitors. After lifting of the obligatory manufacturing of Covid detrimental certificates from January 21, devotees are making a beeline for the temple day by day to have darshan of the Trinity. On Saturday, over 40,000 devotees visited the Srimandir. In the final six days, the temple has acquired a footfall of over two lakh devotees. 

Jena stated it’s tough to keep up social distancing amongst guests contained in the temple as a result of rush. The shut proximity amongst servitors and devotees might improve the chance of an infection unfold. The administration determined to conduct the exams to guard the servitors and comprise the unfold of coronavirus.Secretary of Suar Mahasuar Nijog, Krushna Chandra Pratihari welcomed the SJTA determination.

Suara and Mahasuaras work as cooks within the temple kitchen and plenty of of them additionally promote Mahaprasad in Ananda Bazaar. Jena added that on this COVID interval, they’ve been promoting Mahaprasad to devotees at Jagannath Ballav market advanced and therefore, might have been uncovered to the virus.

Last week, chief administrator of SJTA Dr Krishan Kumar had written to the State authorities for vaccination of servitors and SJTA employees on a precedence foundation. 

Meanwhile, the one km-long barricades raised from Municipal Market Chowk to Simhadwar have been shortened. Devotees now need to stroll just a few hundred metres inside the barricades to achieve the temple gate.

Similarly, following complaints over excessive worth of Mahaprasad being offered at Jagannath Ballav market advanced, the administration is holding discussions with Suar and Mahasuar Nijog to cut back the value, Jena knowledgeable.