Even tallest Ravan effigies bite the dust

Incidentally,with an 84-foot tall effigy of Ravan,the Sector 46 Dussehra ground had the tallest effigy in the city.

The Punjab-based Army action pipe band has been performing stunts for 10 years at the Sector 46 Dussehra ground. “We have an association of more than 10 years with this ground,for we are specially invited every year for the Dussehra celebrations. I have been leading a team of seven members and performing at the biggest Dussehra celebrations in the city for 10 years,” said Dilbag Singh,band master of the Army action band.

While K K Sharma,UT Adviser, was the chief guest,S K Chadha,chief engineer,VP Singh,Commissioner,Municipal Corporation,and J S Chopra,founder director of the Government Medical College and Hospital-32,were also present. Sharma released a souvenir prepared by the Sanatan Dharm Committee,Sector 46.

Dussehra celebrations at Sector 17 Parade ground also attracted visitors from across the city. Home Secretary Anil Sharma was the chief guest at the event.

“It’s the first time that we got to see such a huge crowd. It was a very big event and went on very well,” said Suresh Bakshi,director of the Ramlila Committee,Sector 17.

At Ramlila Ground Sector 27,Pawan Kumar Bansal,Member of Parliament,was the chief guest. The Ramlila Committee took out a possession before burning the effigies. A 55-foot tall effigy was set ablaze,marking an end to the 10-day celebrations.

Satya Pal Jain,national chairman of the BJP’s Committee on Legal Affairs & Election Commission Issues,addressed the Dussehra gatherings of Sectors 43 and 47.

4 suffer minor burn injuries

CHANDIGARH: On Dussehra,four casualties were reported at Government Multi-Speciality Hospital,Sector 16 (GMSH-16). Four residents of Sector 27 — three women and a child — were brought to the hospital at 7 pm. As per a doctor,they suffered minor burn injuries while they were bursting crackers. “The child injured his foot while the women burned their hands,” said a GMSH-16 spokesperson. They were discharged after initial treatment. ens

And everything came toa standstill in Sector 46

CHANDIGARH: AS RESIDENTS came out in large numbers on city roads to celebrate the festival of Dussehra on Sunday,traffic came to a standstill in Sector 46 where the tallest effigy of Ravan was burnt. The parking area available at the market of Sector 46 also ran short of space to accommodate hundreds of vehicles that reached the venue in front of the Sanatham Dharm temple.

Traffic was witnessed at the stretch starting from light point in Sector 46-C up to the venue. Around 100 police officers,including traffic police cops,were deployed to ensure security and avoid jams on the roads.

Parking of vehicles also became a problem as residents faced difficulty in finding a spot to park their vehicles. Naveena,a resident of Sector 46 who had to rush to another sector,said,“My scooter was stuck in the parking lot as many had parked their vehicles in a way that blocked the way of other vehicles,including my own scooter. Traffic officials,too,were not cooperative in lending a helping hand.”

With the parking lot in Sector 46 not being sufficient for the number of vehicles reaching the venue,many ended up parking their vehicles in residential colonies. Such was the rush that people were seen sitting on footpaths. To make matters worse,street lights from Sector 46-C up to the venue were not working.