2,700, many sans mask, show up as Chandigarh's Rock Garden reopens to public

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 14

On the first day of the reopening of Rock Garden after three months, a large number of visitors thronged the garden today.

It was closed for the public on April 13 after the UT witnessed a sudden surge in Covid-19 cases. After witnessing a sharp drop in the number of fresh Covid-19 cases, the UT Administration had yesterday decided to reopen Rock Garden for the public from today. An official said more than 2,700 people, including 200 children, visited Rock Garden today.

However, some visitors seemed to have learnt no lessons from the deadly second wave of the coronavirus and threw Covid-19 norms to the wind. They were not wearing a mask or maintaining social distancing while roaming.

Amanpreet Singh, a resident of Samana in Punjab, said he had come to Chandigarh for routine work with his friends. On learning about opening of Rock Garden, he did not miss the chance of seeing the world famous garden and rushed to see it with his friends.

A health expert said a possible third wave of Covid-19 could not be ruled out if people continued to violate Covid-19 norms. He said it was the duty of the Administration to ensure compliance with Covid-appropriate behaviour and penalise the violators. The pandemic appeared to be slowing down, but it did not mean that people should lower the guard, he added.

Third wave can’t be ruled out: Expert

A health expert said a possible third wave of Covid-19 could not be ruled out if people continued to violate Covid-19 norms. He said it was the duty of the Administration to ensure compliance with Covid-appropriate behaviour and penalise the violators.