Amidst tight security by Kolkata Police at the major Kali temples across the city, Diwali was celebrated after the threat of downpour subsided overnight and thousands of people visited the pandals. The city geared up to the festival of lights after the weather started improving from Saturday afternoon as shoppers thronged the markets to purchase firecrackers, decorative LED bulbs, candles, traditional clay diyas and sweets. Police stepped up security in front of Kalighat, Dakshineswar, Thanthania, Lake Kalibari and Firingi Kali temples where devotees queued in large numbers to offer their prayers.
Apart from the advisory issued by the city police regarding the bursting of firecrackers, the crackdown on illegal firecracker sellers continued with seizure of more than 13000 kilograms of banned crackers in the week preceding the Kali Puja. As many as 25 persons were arrested for selling and possessing them. Crackers producing sound of more than 90 decibel and emitting poisonous gases have been prohibited. Cops asked organisers of Kali Pujas not to hire high-volume DJ players. The people living in high-rises werea sked to ensure that no crackers are burst beyond the stipulated time limit of 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Police have erected 27 watch towers to keep vigil on the movement of revellers at the famous Kali Puja pandals in north, central and south Kolkata.
As many as 114 autos have been pressed into service to prevent people from bursting illegal firecrackers. As many as 10 ambulances, 14 trauma care vehicles, 13 radio flying squad and 21 Quick Response Teams (QRTs) will be deployed for the security. The personnel of Disaster Management Group (DMG) will be present on 33 ghats along the city while four river boats are about to maintain patrolling on the waters. Adequate number of CCTV cameras have been installed in the pandals as well as on the streets. This year the city are hosting 3000-odd Kali Puja pandals. The northern fringes of Kolkata also witnessed a rush of pandal-hoppers. Barasat- Madhyamgram belt, which has a largest concentration of Kali Pujas, saw spectacular pandals on various themes. To deal with the rush of people, large number of traffic police were deployed on NH 34 and NH 35 along Taki Road and roads connected to Barrackpore.