GS Paul
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, October 4
Amid drop in Covid-19 cases, the Border Security Force (BSF) will now allow 5,000 spectators to watch the Beating Retreat ceremony at Attari-Wagah joint check-post (JCP). Earlier, only 300 persons were allowed in the gallery.
As per an advisory of the Union Ministry of Health, the entry of spectators at the Attari-Wagah border was suspended on March 7, 2020.
Since September 17, 2021, only 300 persons, who procured passes from BSF’s Khasa headquarters in advance, were allowed access to the spectators’ gallery.
25,000 seating capacity
- Now, 5,000 spectators have been allowed even as the gallery has the seating capacity of 25,000
- As per an advisory of the Union Ministry of Health, the entry of spectators at the Attari-Wagah border was suspended on March 7, 2020, due to the pandemic
- Since September 17 this year, only 300 persons were allowed access to the spectators’ gallery
Though the limit has been extended up to 5,000, the spectators’ gallery has the seating capacity of 25,000. At the ceremony, spectators watch the flag-lowering ceremony conducted by the BSF and Pak Rangers at Zero Line of the border. The only condition is that every visitor, barring those below 18 years, should have been administered double dose of Covid-19 vaccination.
A BSF official said, “No passes are required to gain entry to the gallery, but it’s on first-come, first-served basis. It would be mandatory for every visitor to possess vaccination certification, either digital or a hard copy.” The rest of the Covid guidelines such as thermal scanning, social distancing and face mask are mandatory.
As per the new protocols, the state government has allowed gathering subject to the upper limit of 50 per cent of the capacity of the places such as stadiums, sports complexes, gyms, halls and zoos
Despite restrictions, more than 2,000 visitors visit Attari daily and their number reaches 3,500-4,000 on weekends. However, most return without watching the flag-lowering ceremony. “We followed the state Covid guidelines to decide upon the number of guests to be allowed in the gallery. Earlier, the administration had allowed 300 persons, so we proceeded accordingly. If we go by the revised guidelines of allowing occupancy of 50 per cent of the capacity, it would go beyond 10,000. On a safer side, initially we have decided to allow a batch of 5,000 visitors only,” he said.
DC Gurpreet Singh Khaira said 5,000 persons could easily be seated at the gallery while maintaining social distancing.
5K spectators allowed at Attari Retreat
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