News started doing the round Tuesday that the Union Government was concerned about the ongoing Kumbh in Haridwar becoming a super spreader of Covid-19.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare termed the India Today news “INCORRECT and FAKE”.
The news agency ANI has written in its one report, quoting an anonymous government source “A senior official in the Central government, during a Secretary-level meeting over the Covid-19 situation in the country on Monday, expressed apprehension that the ongoing Kumbh might become a “super spreader”.”
The PIB Fact Check Wednesday tweeted “No such deliberation was held during the review meeting”.
Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Secretary, had said Tuesday that the duration of Kumbh was already curtailed from about four months to one months.
He also said that the Standard Operating procedures were already issued for such events and the ministry had deliberations with state government officials about the implementation.
After the ministry and the PIB dismissed the news fake, India Today slightly edited the headline but did not retract the copy.
Kumbh started with Shahi Snan on Mahashivratri in March.
