The district administration has requested the people wishing to take part in the Kaliyattom festival at Munniyoor on Friday to restrain themselves in view of the Nipah virus alarm in Munniyoor grama panchayat.
District Collector Amit Meena asked the festival organisers and the people to avoid crowding of people in view of the virus alert.
The Health Department had sounded an alert throughout the grama panchayat following the death of a woman from Munniyoor caused by the Nipah virus.
Mr. Meena asked the Bhagavathi temple authorities at Kaliyattumukku, Munniyoor, who conduct the festival heralding the monsoon season every year, to ensure the guidelines of health and hygiene put forth by the health authorities.
A special meeting of officials and people’s representatives was convened by Mr. Meena ahead of the Kaliyattom festival here on Saturday.
Civic officials and people’s representatives underscored the importance of curtailing the crowding of people as it would be detrimental to the precautions being adopted in the grama panchayat.
Kaliyattom is an agrarian festival which brings together farmer families and ordinary people from Malappuram and neighbouring districts at Kaliyattumukku. It is also viewed as a festival cementing communal harmony of the region.
Mr. Meena said that although there was nothing to worry about Nipah in the district, the concerns raised by the health authorities should not be neglected in Munniyoor panchayat. “We need to be alert for some more days,” he said.
Mr. Meena appointed a special squad to monitor the Kaliyattom festival and to ensure that the health guidelines are followed.
Sale of food stuff and beverages in open stalls will not be allowed at Kaliyattumukku.
Vendors will not be permitted to sell jackfruit, pineapple and watermelon in pieces. People reaching the festival should bring boiled water, said Mr. Meena.
Schools in Tirurangadi taluk will not reopen after summer vacation on Friday because of Kaliyattom festival.
Squad to monitor and to ensure that health guidelines are followed Sale of food stuff and beverages in open stalls will not be allowed
