Durga Puja: Kolkata’s festive structures under threat as cyclone threat looms over Durga and Kali Puja pandals |

Kolkata: The continued presence of bamboo barricades and scaffolding across Kolkata, even a week after Durga Puja submerged, has raised concerns among residents as the city braces for a potential cyclone. The structures erected for pandals and banners during Durga Puja, as well as those erected for Kali Puja now, pose a significant risk to both road users and train passengers.
Experts warn that bamboo poles could become dangerous projectiles if a cyclone hits the city. Somendra Mohan Ghosh, an environmental activist, urged the KMC to take steps to remove scaffolding to avoid potential hazards.
Apart from the immediate threat posed by the cyclone, bamboo poles also pose a health hazard. Water accumulated in the cavities of these structures can serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes, especially when heavy rain is expected due to the impending cyclone.
Organizers of the Fatakeshto Kali Puja on Amherst Street are praying that the cyclone will bypass the city, leaving their pandals untouched. Organizer Probandha Roy, popularly known as Fantada, expressed concern over the vulnerability of bamboo pandals in the face of a severe cyclone. He tasked decorators with strengthening the structure and making sure there were no loose bamboo poles or other structures that could be blown away by strong winds.
Residents of Kasbah and Behala said several pandals partially blocking traffic lanes have not yet been dismantled. Saswata Basu, secretary of the Durgotsaba Forum, attributed the delay in demolishing the structures to shortage of workers before Lakshmi Puja, assuring that they would be demolished within a couple of days.
The situation has also caused inconvenience to property owners in areas like Ballygunge Terrace, where pandals occupy almost the entire width of the road, hampering vehicular movement. A resident, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed frustration over difficulties accessing their garages due to the bamboo structures..
The KMC faces the difficult task of dismantling the numerous pandals and makeshift bamboo structures erected to display banners. Debashish Kumar, the mayor’s council member overseeing KMC’s advertising department, acknowledged the difficulty in completing the dismantling within the stipulated time frame, citing the need for more time and manpower.
KMC is making efforts to dismantle the structures, focusing on major highways and bridges. However, most of these structures may remain in place due to time constraints, leaving the city vulnerable to the impending cyclone.