ASI monuments, including 55 in Assam, closed for visitors till May 15

GUWAHATI: The uptick in the number of COVID-19 cases across the country has prompted the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to call for the immediate closure of all monuments, sites, and museums up to May 15.

An order to this effect was issued by the ASI and it was tweeted by Culture Minister Prahlad Patel this evening.

"Due to the prevailing COVID situation, it has been decided to close all centrally protected monuments, sites and museums under the ASI with immediate effect and till May 15 or until further orders," the ASI said in a statement.

There are a total of 55 monuments centrally protected monuments/sites across Assam. This includes Talatal Ghar and Rang Ghar in Sivasagar, Group of Four Maidams in Charaideo, Vishnudol in Joysagar, among others.

A majority of these are located in Kamrup Metro, Sonitpur, Biswanath, Cachar, and Sivasagar districts.

Across India, these include 3,693 monuments and 50 museums.

In live monuments like Puri Jagannath Temple and Somnath Temple, daily 'puja' will be conducted but no public gathering will be allowed, said Nitin Tripathi, the ministry's media advisor.

Last year, too, all monuments and sites maintained by the ASI were closed due to the coronavirus pandemic on March 17. They reopened in July with strict restrictions like mandatory wearing of masks, a cap on the number of visitors, and social distancing.

The curbs were relaxed later in the year.

Follow us on Facebook