New Year Eve at Shimla: Historic Ridge and Mall evacuated over Covid scare

Shimla, Dec 31: The historic Ridge ground was evacuated over Covid concern at 1930 hrs by Shimla police, a senior officer of district administration confirmed on Friday.
Talking to UNI District Magistrate and Deputy Commissioner of Shimla Aditya Negi said that the Ridge and Mall road were evacuated this evening as the massive crowd gathered on the ground, becoming a threat for the Covid-19 protocol.
“We have quelled the crowds by making public announcements on the loud speakers that tourists who are gather at Ridge, return to their hotels and guest houses, as it is not safe for them to remain in the crowd,” said Negi.
“We have received an input that the crowd may breach the Covid SOPs of Ridge ground in the wake of massive gathering and footfall of New Year revealers here to celebrate the end of December 31 and the start of New Year,” he added.
“We have already made announcement yesterday to the tourists and local residents that they could evacuate the Ridge, if it would be massive gathering and threat for Covid-19,” said the DC.
He further said this was imminent that a number of tourists may have violated the Covid-19 protocol and after seeing massive crowd, people were asked to vacate the Ridge immediately.
Since no place in the town was open, which could accommodate the crowds, the tourists were asked to return to their hotels to celebrate the New Year, added the DC.
He said, “We would not allow the gathering to assemble in large number as it could spike Covid-19, if people were allowed to remain on the Ridge and Mall Road.”
A police officer said that they were asking [people and New Year revelers to move to their respective destinations till 2200 hrs, as no one would be allowed on the Mall and Ridge ground.