Rain on radar, organisers prepare for a wet run-up to Durga Puja
Times of India | 3 October 2024
Kolkata: From changing the materials used to construct the pandal and stocking up on emergency drainage pumps to covering the open pandals and paving portions of the open ground with wooden platforms, Durga Puja organisers are taking multiple precautionary measures keeping in mind the rain forecast during the festive days.
Organisers of Maniktala Chaltabagan Lohapatty have shifted to wooden and fibre sheet artworks from tiled roofs and ceramic artwork to ensure there is no accident.“Further, we have stabilised the structure using iron frameworks and pillars. Since Amherst Street gets flooded during heavy rain, we have also kept pumps handy,” said general secretary Suren Khanra.
According to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), the city and its neighborhoods are likely to be drenched by sporadic showers from Oct 4 to Oct 6 under the impact of a low-pressure area that is set to form over southeast Bangladesh on Friday. The rain could be light to moderate and lose intensity from Oct 7 but may continue till Oct 13. “Heavy rain is predicted at some places but entire south Bengal could remain cloudy with intermittent showers during the final pre-puja phase and the four puja days,” an official said.
“A cyclonic circulation has formed over southeast Bangladesh. An upper air low-pressure trough runs from the cyclonic circulation to North Andaman Sea across the Myanmar coast. Under its impact, a low-pressure area is set to form over north Bay of Bengal on Oct 6. This will trigger light to moderate showers across south Bengal. Since the system is not likely to be a big one, it should disintegrate within two days. But monsoon trough remains active over Gangetic Bengal. So, clouds and rain will persist. From Oct 8 onwards, fewer areas are likely to receive rain but most districts will remain cloudy,” said RMC weather scientist HR Biswas.
At Deshapriya Park, Maddox Square, Kidderpore 74 Pally and Behala Nutan Dal, the organisers are covering major portions of the ground with wooden planks. “We are avoiding sprinkling of silver sand to prevent any further damage to the ground as the cricket season is due from next month,” said Sudipto Kumar of Deshapriya Park. Sandipan Bandyopadhyay of Behala Nutan Dal said they were also covering major portions of the ground for additional rain safety.
Kumartuli Park has laid paver blocks to ensure visitors don’t have to step on slush.
Santosh Mitra Square, which have themed the pandal as ‘Sphere of Las Vegas’ and have screens fitted to the sphere, said they have rechecked the materials used as part of the pixel technology to ensure there is no chance of short circuit. “Electricians will be posted at the pandal to undertake checks. The materials used in the screens will not get damaged in rain or minor fire,” said Sajal Ghosh, the chief organisers. Ashok Dey of Mudiali Club said they had kept an open space with a shed on the top ready for pandal hoppers.