Puri: 10 more servitors engaged in chariot construction found COVID +ve

Puri: Ten more servitors engaged in chariot construction work for Ratha Jatra in Puri were found positive for COVID-19.

So far, 18 chariot construction servitors including 12 Maharana servitors and 6 Bhoi servitors have tested positive for COVID-19, informed Puri Collector Samarth Verma today.

All the infected servitors have been kept under isolation at the COVID Care Centre at Nilachal Yatri Nivas in Puri.

Yesterday, 8 servitors from Ratha Khala (chariot construction site) were detected with COVID-19.

In view of increasing number of COVID cases in pilgrim town, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) with help of district administration has decided to create a bio-bubble at chariot construction site to protect the servitors from COVID infection.

The bio-bubble arrangement has been made for safety of servitors prohibiting them to come in contact with outsiders. Only officials associated with the chariot construction work will be allowed to enter into the place.

The construction work of chariots for Ratha Jatra scheduled on July 12 began on auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya on May 15.

The vaccination of servitors in age group of 18-44 is underway. The temple administration has set the target to vaccinate all servitors ahead of Ratha Jatra.