E-Paper
Idol immersion ill-managed?
TOTAL MISMANAGEMENT on part of the district administration and Lucknow Police marred the immersion of Durga idols. On several occasions, the procession came to a screeching halt as the cops and puja committee members often engaged in heated arguments. A very few policemen were deployed to escort the immersion processions from Hussainganj that left puja committees disappointed. The policemen on duty made no efforts to regulate the traffic as the procession headed towards the banks of the Gomti.
TOTAL MISMANAGEMENT on part of the district administration and Lucknow Police marred the immersion of Durga idols.
On several occasions, the procession came to a screeching halt as the cops and puja committee members often engaged in heated arguments.
A very few policemen were deployed to escort the immersion processions from Hussainganj that left puja committees disappointed. The policemen on duty made no efforts to regulate the traffic as the procession headed towards the banks of the Gomti. Organisers even threatened to take up this issue with the higher officials.
The intensity of the chaos during the procession could be gauged from the fact that the procession which started from Hussainganj crossing at 2:45 pm reached Gomti only after 5:30 pm. Cops let the traffic go past the idols and even allowed it to come from the opposite direction on the same lane.
The situation got worse when the procession reached Qaiserbagh crossing at 3:45 pm. Vehicles, from all directions, were allowed to move at this intersection.
A heated argument took place between police and members of puja samitis.
Furious at the poor management, the puja committees threatened to block the road at Qaiserbagh crossing.
Sensing trouble, senior cops intervened and pacified the matter. Police then swung into action and set on regulating the traffic. Thereafter, it was a smooth journey. Puja committee members described their meetings with district administration officials as just “an eyewash”.
SP Traffic Omkar Singh denied reports of mismanagement. The district administration officials said they were supposed to manage the Ghat-side of immersions.
Earlier, all through the way devotees especially young girls and women danced to the beats of dhak right from the starting point till the idols reached the Gomti. Then slogans were raised as idols were immersed in the river. The immersion of idols continued till late night.
