Heena Sharma Blog

  The community Durga Puja committees in Kolkata will ensure that all those who are involved in the rituals and other related works are vaccinated in the next three months, an official said on Wednesday. The puja committees will also make certain that people visiting the pandals wear masks covering the nose and maintain social distancing, Forum for Durgotsab official Partha Ghosh told PTI.   "From our members and locals frequenting the pandals to artisans, priests, dhakis and electricians -- everyone will have to get COVID vaccines in the next three months," he said. "We expect everyone to get both doses but for dhakis (traditional drummers) coming from villages two-three days before the puja, we will ensure they get at least one dose," Ghosh added. Forum for Durgotsab, an umbrella organisation of 550 community Durga Pujas in Kolkata and neighbouring areas, also published guidelines to ensure that the festivities are held following COVID-safety protocols.

Drinking water and electricity have been restored in most parts of Kolkata, a week after a cyclonic storm tore through the state, decimating houses, uprooting trees and snapping power cables. According to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) sources, the restoration work is on at a war footing and they are hopeful that all the roads will be cleared of uprooted trees by Wednesday. Large areas of the city continue to remain without power as electric poles and communication lines had been blown away by gusting winds. West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday urged Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to update him on the situation "as expected under Constitution" and said that need of the hour is to engage in relief on the ground. Read More

A day after the Centre and some state governments announced a cut in taxes on fuel products, petrol and diesel prices came down significantly across major cities this morning. Mumbai saw the biggest cut in petrol prices — of Rs 4.37 per litre. Petrol is now sold at Rs 86.97 a litre in the city. In Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai, petrol is being retailed at Rs 81.50, Rs 83.35 and Rs 84.70 per litre, respectively. Diesel prices are down by Rs 2.50 in all the four cities. Price of the fuel in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai are Rs 72.95, Rs 74.80, Rs 77.45 and Rs 77.11 per litre, respectively. The Opposition critised the decision, saying the cut was "an ant" compared to the increase which is "an elephant". ALSO READ: Modi govt blinks, reduces petrol and diesel prices by Rs 2.5 a litre "It's a panic reaction from the government. The relief is insignificant and like a needle in haystack," party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala sai