Kerala halts construction of bridge for 'Kumbh Mela', row erupts

A row erupted in Kerala after revenue officials halted construction of temporary bridge for Maha Magha festival (Kumbh Mela) on Bharathapuzha River bank. No permission was obtained for construction on river, the stop notice said. Calling it "violation of religious freedom", BJP's Kummanam Rajasekharan claimed that government officials visited the site daily but never flagged illegality earlier.