Prayers in batches, not more than 200 allowed in churches

Not more than 200 people will be allowed in churches across Ranchi for Christmas mass on Thursday night and Friday morning owing to Covid-19 restrictions, even as devotees have been requested to keep children below 10 and senior citizens away from the religious gatherings as they are more vulnerable to being infected by the virus, officials from the Ranchi district administration said on Thursday.

“The state government’s latest decision of allowing only 200 people at religious gatherings will be followed during Christmas mass too,” said acting Ranchi sub divisional officer Manoj Kumar, who is in-charge in the absence of SDO Sameera S.  

Kumar said all the police stations across the city have also been instructed to intensify patrolling and make sure that unmonitored gatherings on road were avoided during the festival. “Police have also been asked to keep a watch on drunk driving,” he said.

Officials said the government was unlikely to come up with a fresh set of guidelines for Christmas and New Year, and the latest notification issued from the home, prisons and disaster management department earlier this month would be applicable across the state.