Kolkata observes idol immersion ceremony amidst tight security

Durga Puja in Bengal was over and idol immersion continued in full swing on Thursday after a day's pause on Wednesday in view of Muharram, a day of bereavement for the Muslims.

The second day of immersion is considered to be the busiest as more than 150 community Puja committees immersed the Goddess Durga idols in the Hooghly river from 22 river banks in different parts of the city.

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) took active steps to clean the river and its banks following the Calcutta High Court's order to remove the idol structures within 24 hours of the immersion.

"We have deployed cranes and pay loaders in all the major Ghats (river banks) to remove the structures immediately. The KMC personnel are deployed to keep the premises clean and flowers are being dumped separately," said KMC's Mayor-in-Council Debasish Kumar.

More idols are set to be immersed on Friday.

The ritual continued amidst tight security and surveillance by Kolkata police and river traffic police throughout the day. The disaster management unit of river traffic guard was also alert to avert any untoward incident during the immersion, police said.

"KMC is ready to complete the immersion ceremony in a proper and peaceful manner," he added.

--IANS

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