City throngs pandals as rains take a break

Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen visited a few pandals on Thursday and Friday to take stock of police preparedness for any emergency.

What,however,played spoilsport was the inadequacy of public transport. But most,without waiting,gladly trudged along. Almost bursting at the seams,the Metro Railway alone bore the brunt of the rush.

No relief for next 48 hours as Met says it will pour
The pitter-patter is likely to continue for the next 48 hours. The Alipore meteorological department has predicted a partly cloudy sky with possibility of a few spells of rain and thundershowers.

The city has experienced scattered rainfall in the first two days of Puja,prompting many pandal-hoppers to seek shelter inside the pandal premises. With temperature hovering around two degrees above normal and with a relative humidity of around 92 per cent,it is going to be an uncomfortable time for most enthusiasts.

Sampa Chakrabarty,a resident of Bangur,had made plans to visit the pandals in north and central Kolkata but Saptami morning brief showers stalled her plans. “The weather is so unpredictable,one moment it is hot and humid and the next moment it starts raining. It is becoming a nightmare to visit different pandals,especially the bigger ones where we have to stand in the queue,” said Chakrabarty.