Bhattacharya called for control on the number of people attending the annual fair to the extent possible to prevent the further spread of the infection among the pilgrims from various states and on-duty personnel. "We want the religious rituals to be held but keeping in mind the safety of people, gathering of a large number of people should be controlled," he said. Every year, lakhs of people take a holy dip at Gangasagar, where River Ganga meets the Bay of Bengal, on Makar Sankranti (January 14) and offer prayers at Kapil Muni Temple.