Mumbai: BMC bans Holi celebrations amid surge in COVID-19 cases, those found celebrating will face action

People celebrate Holi at Mahim on March 10, 2020. File pic

Even as the fresh COVID-19 cases in the city rose again on Tuesday and hit 3,552, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) asked Mumbaikars to stay away from celebrating Holi during the weekend and behave responsibly. Not only have public celebrations been banned, the civic body has also asked people not to celebrate it among family members, and anybody found violating norms would be booked.

Youngsters play with colours on Holi at Shivaji Park, in 2020. File pic

Last year just after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the nation, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had asked citizens to keep the Holi celebrations low-key. A year into the pandemic, the civic body now wants Mumbaikars to not celebrate the festival at all and has warned them against flouting rules.

The civic body has said that anybody found violating the rules will be liable for action under the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897 and Disaster Management Act 2005. The municipal commissioner has also appealed to people that keeping in mind the ‘I am responsible' initiative nobody should celebrate the festival even amongst family members and act responsibly. A civic official said that instructions had been issued to not celebrate the festival and anybody found violating the rules will be booked.

28,699
No. of cases the state reported over the past 24 hours