Mahasaptami: Social distancing goes for a toss, 218 people booked for not wearing masks in West Bengal

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Published : Oct 12, 2021, 11:05 PM IST

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Mahasaptami witnessed the usage of masks and sanitisers among revelers who came for pandal hopping in Kolkata on Tuesday. The police and community puja organizers were quite strict in not allowing visitors within the pandal premises. Those without masks and sanitisers were strictly shown the exit path without any mercy

KOLKATA: The day of Mahasaptami, witnessed a genuine attempt by the police personnel and the community puja organizers in Kolkata to caution the revelers enjoying the festive mood about the probable super-spreader after the festive season is over.

According to statistics of the Kolkata police control room till early evening the crowd concentration was mainly in the southern part of Kolkata i.e Ballygunj, Gariahat, and Behala areas and Ultadanga, Maniktala, and Tala areas in north Kolkata.“Without public awareness and with such huge footfall it is impossible to maintain the social distancing norms. We are helpless,” said a senior official of Kolkata police who did not wish to be named.

On Monday till 8pm, a total of 218 people were booked or prosecuted in Kolkata for not using face masks. On Tuesday, the number touched 159 till 3 pm only. Instead, those genuine attempts and joint efforts by police and community puja organisers failed to evoke that fear among the masses, for whom merriment during the festive days seemed to be more important than avoiding the possible post-Puja super-spreader.

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However, it was witnessed that the mask awareness seemed to have increased among the revellers than what it was for the last three days. The police and community puja organisers were quite strict in not allowing visitors within the pandal premises. Those without masks and sanitisers were strictly shown the exit path without any mercy.

The police officers were seen announcing through loudspeakers and cautioning people about the mandatory use of masks. Those not sporting masks were often forced by police personnel to use them on the streets. The more callous one daring to revel without carrying the masks from home was provided with masks both by police personnel as well as some Puja organizers. So naturally, the number of revellers sporting the masks on Tuesday was visibly more than what it was during the last three days.

However, the norms of social distancing went for a total toss on Tuesday, simply because of the huge crowds rushing to flock to the streets to enjoy the maximum of the festive mood. Although the police officers, who were on the streets, were requesting the revellers to maintain social distancing as far as possible, the sheer number of revellers on the streets made their genuine attempts fail.

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