New year celebration at Shimla : Historic Ridge and Mall evacuate over Covid concern

The historic Ridge ground evacuated over Covid concern at 1930 hrs by the Shimla police, senior officer of district administration confirmed.
Talking to us District Magistrate and Deputy Commissioner Shimla Mr Aditya Negi said that Ridge and Mall road were evacuated this evening as the massive crowd gather on the ground and it was threat for the Covid protocol and in the wake of Omicron .
We are quelled the crowds by making public announcements on the loud speakers that tourists who are gathered at Ridge returned their hotels and guest houses as it is not safe for them to remained in the crowd.
We have received an input that crowd may beach the Covid SOPs of the Ridge ground in wake of massive gathering and footfall of new years revealers here to celebrate the end of Dec 31 and New years.

We have already made announcement yesterday to the tourists and local residents that they could evacuate the ridge if it would be massive gathering and threat for the Covid .
This was imminent that number of tourists may have violate the Covid protocol and after seeing massive crowds of tourists revealers we asked people to vacate the ridge immediately.
Since no place in the town is so open which could accommodate the crowds the tourists are asked to returns their place of booking in the hotels to celebrate the new years in their halt.
We would not allow the gathering to assemble in large number and it could spike the Covid if the people would be allowed to remained on the Ridge and Mall Road , Deputy Commissioner added.
A police officer said that they are asking people and new year revealers to move their respective destinations till 2200 hrs as no one would be allowed on the Mall and Ridge ground .

There are also reports in social media of a terror threat.Heavy forces have been deployed on Ridge and Mall Road and authorities have got the area cleared of tourist.