KOLKATA: The Calcutta High Court declared Durga Puja pandals as no-entry zones for visitors in West Bengal. The court ordered that no visitor will be allowed inside the pandal and only a limited number of organisers can enter the pandals. The court expressed apprehension over the possibility of overcrowding during the state’s biggest festive celebration, which can lead to an uncontrollable rise in the number of COVID-19 cases.
The Court directed all pandals to have barricades erected at the entrances. The distance of barricades has been advised to be five metres for small pandals and 10 metres for big ones. The rush of people on the streets last week shopping for the upcoming festivities led to concern among health experts on mass infection and second wave of coronavirus in the state.