COVID-19 rules flouted by thousands at Zubeen's Bihu concert; video viral

GUWAHATI: A Bihu-themed concert headlined by Assam's heartthrob Zubeen Garg in Guwahati's Hengerabari turned quite the spectacle yesterday as more than a thousand people turned up to watch the crooner belt out his bangers.

There was one little problem though -- the state's health department has urged the district administrations to restrict from conducting any kind of Bihu or other cultural programmes in the districts whenever there are 300 plus active cases.

Kamrup (Metro has recorded around 2600 COVID-19 positive cases in the past few days, and therefore, Bihu functions should have been cancelled.

However, the Zubeen show proves that Bihu shows -- planned well in advance -- are still being held in several pockets of the city.

Meanwhile, the attendees of the function have been criticized for their flagrant defiance of the COVID-19 norms -- such as social distancing and the wearing of masks.'

In videos of the concert that have surfaced on social media, it can be clearly seen that the stadium was packed to capacity and the attendees can be seen falling over one another.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CN4IRazrFlO/?igshid=1gwouqxzpk2gr

After a clip from the concert was uploaded by a popular Instagram page, netizens have lambasted the concert-goers in view of the ongoing COVID-19 situation.

"Why is this crowd legally allowed by the administration? Why no restrictions at all?," wrote one user, while another said, "Should be punished according to law."

Organizers and the artistes themselves have been loathe to cancel these shows as they involve big money.

Despite the surge in COVID-19 cases in Assam, there has been a continued breach of Covid Protocols across functions. On Monday, Zubeen Garg performed in Greater Hengrabari Rongali Bihu Sanmilan 2021.

In the video, one can see hundreds of fans participating in the concert. The state has recently witnessed a rapid spike in Covid cases and people not taking precautions in this situation may lead the state to a problematic situation.

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