The Lalbaugcha Raja Ganeshotsav Mandal of Mumbai has decided not to organize Ganeshotsav because of the corona epidemic this time. A blood and plasma donation camp will be set up in its place. The decision was taken by Mumbai’s Lalbaugcha Raja Ganeshotsav Mandal in wake of the increasing Covid-19 cases, especially in Maharashtra where the tally has hit 1,74,761 yesterday.

The board has decided to hold a health camp this year for 11 days. This year’s 87th Ganeshotsav idol installation and immersion ceremony will be celebrated as a health festival from Ganesh Chaturthi to Anant Chaturdashi, the Mandal said.

Every year, millions of devotees, including celebrities, visit the famed pandal of Lalbaughcha Raja where a 14-feet-high idol of Lord Ganesha is set up. The festival witnesses donations in crores, including gold and silver ornaments being offered to the ‘King of Lalbaug’.

Meanwhile, Mumbai  Commissioner of Police Pranaya Ashok on Wednesday imposed Section 144 and prohibited the presence or movement of one or more persons in public places. Under the imposed Section 144, the gathering of any sort anywhere, including religious places subject to certain conditions in view of the COVID-19 pandemic will also be restricted. Notice in this regard was issued today.

As many as 60 Maharashtra Police personnel, including three officers, have died of COVID-19 since the outbreak of the disease, an official said on Wednesday. Out of the 60 victims, 38 were from the Mumbai Police force, he said. So far, nearly 4,900 police personnel have been infected with coronavirus in the state, including over 2,600 from the Mumbai Police force, he said.

In the last 24 hours, 82 police personnel in the state were discharged after recovering from the disease. With this, more than 3,700 personnel have till now recovered from the deadly viral infection, he said. As of now, there are 1,015 active cases in the state police force, he said.

Since the enforcement of lockdown, police registered 1,39,702 cases for violation of prohibitory orders in the state and 29,425 people were arrested in these cases, he said. At least 290 incidents of assault on police were reported in which 86 personnel were injured, the official said, adding that 54 health professionals were also attacked.

Nearly 860 people were arrested for these assault cases, he said. The state police also collected Rs 9.95 crore as fine in various cases of violation, he said. The Maharashtra Police force comprises over two lakh personnel.

According to the data, Thane district is the biggest contributor to Covid-19 in Maharashtra after Mumbai. According to Thane civic body, on Sunday COVID-19 cases breaching the 30000-mark in Thane and deaths nearing 1000.

Maharashtra Minister of Public Health Rajesh Tope has directed the district and civic administrations to increase detection, testing, and treatment with the involvement of the local population.

With no let-up in Covid-19 cases, Thane district collectorate said that some areas of the city, the largest in the district, will be put under stringent lockdown from July 1. Its additional Municipal Commissioner Ganesh Deshmukh informed that modalities of the move were being discussed and details of curbs areas will be announced soon. With the addition of 1,345 cases in Thane yesterday the tally has now reached 30,289. The district also witnessed 36 deaths which took the toll to 983.

While, in Navi Mumbai, its civic chief has already announced total lockdown in 12 containment areas in the city starting today, during which house-to-house screening drives would be undertaken. In neighbouring Palghar district, collector Kailas Shinde also declared some areas as containment zones and ordered lockdown to contain the outbreak.

News Source -ANI