Despite the surge of the Covid 19 pandemic cases and the cold wave, people celebrated the New Year as parks and picnic destinations of the state capital witnessed a good footfall of people. However, many people stayed at home out of precaution.
Despite the chill in the air, people turned to temples for prayers. The famous Pahadi baba temple, Shani temple, Jagannath temple, Khatu Shayam temple, and Hanuman temple on the Mahatma Gandhi Road witnessed a good number of devotees attending prayers. At the Sarana sthal at Old Ranchi tribals performed special prayers for the wellbeing of people.
“This year I did not venture out of my home to celebrate the New Year because of the pandemic. However, early morning I visited the Hanuman temple to pray for my family, friends, relatives, and all. The last two years have been very difficult for all of us. We should adopt Covid appropriate behaviours and lifestyle because only precaution can save us,” said Sabita Mishra, a homemaker.
Parks and picnic spots had sufficient footfall of people. However, the district administration had issued instructions not to allow any visitor without a face mask. At some of the parks, visitors were asked to register their mobile number and personal details like whether they are vaccinated or not. At the Kanke Dam, the footfall increased only in the afternoon. But there was none to ensure that people follow Covid 19 protocols.
Ranchi district administration had also made arrangements for the vaccination at parks and picnic spots and health workers were seen asking people to get the vaccine. Management of the Macchlighar on Booty Road announced to shut the park due to precaution. This aqua park is a favourite destination for children and youngsters. Since there is no vaccine for children and youngsters below 18 and they are vulnerable to infection, the park authority decided to keep it close.
“For the last two years, I am not going outside to celebrate the New Year because I can’t be a part of the crowd that unknowingly becomes the super-spreader. Heard that parks and picnic spots were lively with celebration. This is nothing but madness. We have paid price for being careless. Some people are not ready to understand,” said Ishika Mishra, a medical aspirant.
The Patratu dam witnessed the footfall closing over 50,000. The health department and the district administration had made tight arrangements that only such people would be allowed to enter on the dam premise who have taken the doses of vaccine.
“If you are not vaccinated then go back or take the jab if you want to celebrate here. Arrangements were perfect and there was no relaxation of the rule. The crowd started pouring on December 31. On the day of the New Year, the footfall was nearly 50,000. On Sunday a large number of people came here. On average around one lakh people have come here in the three days,” said Yogendra who sails boat here.
The waterfalls on the city outskirts namely Jonha and Hundru remained jampacked with visitors. According to an estimate together both waterfalls recorded footfall over 60,000. Besides, other waterfalls like Sita, Dhordhora, and Tiru people came for the celebration. Across Ranchi, as many as 21 people were injured in different cases of road accidents on the day of the New Year celebration. A local journalist Anuj Kumar Sharma was allegedly assaulted by a forest guard Arun Kumar at the Birsa Munda Zoological Park when he was reporting at the park. An FIR was lodged by the journalist against the guard at Ormanjhi police station.