Lucknow, May 19: The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has now issued fresh directives, allowing a maximum of 25 people to take part in weddings and other functions in view of the Coovid pandemic.

In a letter to district officials, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Avanish Awasthi said permission will be given for participation of maximum 25 invitees at a time for wedding and other functions, both in open and enclosed places.

Earlier, a maximum of 50 people or 50 per cent of the capacity of the marriage hall, were permitted. A maximum of 100 persons were allowed in open spaces. Awasthi said that invitees will have to comply with Covid-appropriate protocols, with the use of masks and sanitizers. Vijay Kashyap Dies Of COVID-19 at Gurgaon Hospital, PM Narendra Modi Condoles Death of Uttar Pradesh Minister.

Social distancing will have to be strictly followed while making seating arrangements, besides making proper arrangements for sanitation and cleanliness of toilets at the venue where the function is being organised, the order stated.

The responsibility of complying with these conditions will be that of organizers, the order said. Meanwhile, more than 2,700 weddings have been postponed or cancelled in the state capital alone during the ongoing Corona curfew. According to a wedding hall owner, bookings have been cancelled in huge numbers, giving a major setback to those in the business. COVID-19 Horror: Panic Grips Villages in Sakra Block in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur After 36 People Die Due to Cough and Cold in 27 Days.

"People are cancelling marriage events because compliance of Covid protocols in not possible in such functions. If the number of guests exceed 50, how can anyone tell the additional guests to leave the venue? The local police tend to misbehave if there is any violation. Moreover, the curfew makes is tough for guests to commute," said a well-known businessman who has 'indefinitely postponed' his son's wedding, scheduled for May 29.

The businessman said that he has not fixed a fresh date for the wedding yet. "There is talk of the third wave in September which would again make things difficult. We may opt for a destination wedding outside the country if that happens," he said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 19, 2021 09:46 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).