A junior priest, who is going to take part in the rituals of Bhoomi Pujan at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has reported positive for coronavirus. Pradeep Das, who is a pupil of the head priest Acharya Satyendra Das at Ram temple, has been put under home isolation following the test.
A total of four priests are given charge of taking care of the Ram temple. Das, who tested positive, is one of them.
At least 16 police personnel on duty at the temple have also tested positive for Covid-19, and they all promptly have been asked to isolate at home.
However, it is worth mentioning that all the policemen and priests were subjected to rapid antigen Covid-19 tests and their RT-PCR tests have not yet come in.
The incident comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's expected visit to lay the foundation stone of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on August 5. The construction of the temple will start with the ceremony to lay the foundation stone.
A Ram Mandir Trust member had said that in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, only 200 people would attend the ceremony and all social distancing norms will be followed at the event.
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Reportedly, separate blocks will be created for 50 people each in order to maintain social distancing. While one block will be for political leaders and those associated with the Ram temple movement, another block will be for priests and religious leaders.
Apart from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath veteran leaders expected to attend the ceremony include LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti, and Kalyan Singh.