Kumb Mela fake Covid tests: Uttarakhand orders police case against labs Over 70 lakh devotees have participated in the religious gathering held in Haridwar. About 2,600 devotees had been estimated to Covid positive out of the nearly two lakh tests conducted by medical personnel during the religious gathering.The violation of Covid-19 protocols at the gathering had attracted the media attention from across the world. The Uttarakhand government has directed the Haridwar district administration to register a case against private laboratories that have allegedly conducted fake Covid tests during the Kumbh Mela, held between April 1 to 30. The Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry, Lav Agarwal had said at a media briefing that the exact number of fake tests were unknown but a detailed report on the matter was expected in a week. Reports suggested that the private laboratories conducted fake tests to meet the daily 50,000 testing quota set by the Uttarakhand High Court order. the Haridwar district administration had ordered a probe after reports emerged that over one lakh fake tests were conducted during the religious gatherings. According to reports, the labs apparently did so to meet the daily testing quota of 50,000 tests set by Uttarakhand High Court.Atleast 22 private labs mainly from Delhi and Haryana had been hired by the state government to conduct testing during the festival.The Haridwar district administration ordered a probe after reports emerged that over one lakh fake tests were conducted during the religious gatherings. The Uttarakhand government was critised for failed compliance with the coronavirus protocol while holding religious events like Kumb Mela and Char Dham Yatra Thousands of pilgrims gathered in Haridwar for a ritual bath in the Ganges River between April 1 and April 30, despite a massive Covid surge during the second wave.Over 70 lakh devotees have participated in the religious gathering held in Haridwar. As of Thursday, According to the Union Health Minstry Data Uttarakhand has 3,572 active Covid-19 cases, 3,27,233 recoveries and 6,997 fatalities.