Tens of thousands of people intermingled among complete strangers to usher in the New Year on Nepal’s Kosi river barrage. The revellers arrived from neighbouring districts of India and Nepal. They were unmindful of Omicron.
The fear of COVID-19 has not been a deterrence for those wanting to usher in 2022 in style. Tens of thousands of revellers at the Kosi river barrage in Nepal for a good time, away from stress in the times of Omicron.
The Kosi river barrage lies in between the Saptari and the Sunsari districts of Nepal. It is a picnic spot of sorts. However, 1 January 2022 saw all cautions thrown to the wind. Tens of thousands of people from the districts of Saptari, Sunsari and Morang in Nepal mingled with people from across the country’s international border with India.
The revellers from India came from the districts of Saharsa, Supaul, Madhepura and Purnea districts of Bihar state in India. The huge gatherings did not seem to care for the COVID-19 or its Omicron variant.
Many people came on foot and policemen were overwhelmend with managing crowds and traffic with thousands of vehicles, parked chock-a-block. Over a hundred shops had come up to fuel the celebrations with snacks and drinks. M Singh, who took pictures for OWSA says that seven out of 10 people gathered to celebrate the New Year were from Bihar.
“Not one person was wearing masks,” Singh says.
