Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma visits Bazi Bazaar at Esplanade ahead of the Diwali festival, in Kolkata on Wednesday. (ANI Photo)
The Kolkata Police has prohibited flying sky lanterns during Kali Puja and Diwali due to potential fire hazards. According to Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma, strict surveillance will be implemented to enforce the ban and violators may face police action.
The move aims to prioritise public safety during the festivals, said the police. Police commissioner Verma directed strict surveillance following multiple complaints about the risk sky lanterns pose to aircraft operations.
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Only green crackers are allowed in Kolkata and strict action will be taken against those using banned firecrackers, said the officials. Police have started checking at key points to enforce this rule.
Kolkata Police has also warned against using sky lanterns and laser lights during Kali Puja and Diwali, citing potential dangers to air traffic. Strict action will be taken against violators, said the police.
City-wide restrictions related to sound-emitting crackers, decorative lights, and DJ music have also been issued. Efforts are underway to raise awareness among residents at the police station level. In Kolkata, over 3,500 community Kali Pujas events are held. October 21 to 23 have been scheduled for the immersion of Kali idols. To ensure the smooth completion of the immersion process, Commissioner Verma has also met with the officials of the Kali Puja committees at the Dhanyadhanya Stadium.
Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics.
With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences.
Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More
