Our Correspondent
Imphal, June 7 (EMN): To seek divine healing and protection from Covid-19 pandemic, an inter-faith prayer session was held at the western gate of Kangla on Monday under the supervision of Manipur chief minister, N Biren Singh.
Speaking at the occasion, the chief minister stated that ‘people usually pray to the Almighty for His blessings when they go through hard times as it gives them mental peace and hope’.
Stating that the world has been badly affected by the pandemic and Manipur is no exception, he said that the total number of deaths in the state has crossed 800 and the number of active cases had crossed 9000 mark. As such, the chief minister said he felt the necessity of an inter-faith prayer for all religions as it would bring unity and oneness amongst different communities to jointly fight the pandemic with spiritual strength.
Stating that the high number of daily positive cases was due to increase in testing capacity, Biren Singh informed that 8000 to 9000 samples are tested daily and the positivity rate had reduced to around 8 percent while mortality rate is also steadily coming down.
On the incident that happened in the ICU ward of JNIMS Hospital on Saturday, he said that such misunderstanding and miscommunication between hospital staff and patient parties happen sometimes even during normal days. However, the matter is being investigated so that such incidents do not recur in future, he added.
In the day’s prayer session, priests from Shree Shree Govindajee Temple board, All Manipur Christian Organisation, Jamiat-Ul-Ulema, Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board, Tingkao Ragwang Chapriak, Giani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, Shree Digambar Jain Samaj and Kabui Poupei Chapriak Fom besides archbishop Most, Rev. Dominic Lumon prayed for healing and protection of the state and the world from Covid-19.
The prayer programme was held with strict adherence to standard operating procedures of Covid-19 after observing one-minute silence in remembrance of all those who have lost their lives due to the pandemic in the state.
Minister of Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Awangbowe Newmai, minister of Education, S Rajen, minister of Tribal Affairs and Hills, Vungzagin Valte, Rajya Sabha MP, Maharaj Sanajaoba Leishemba, Lok Sabha MP, Dr. RK Ranjan, MLAs, representatives of different religious organisations attended the prayer session held.
