Fires, clouds can't check crowdburst

KOLKATA: There were smoke and fire and clouds. Again, the Devi triumphed over the rain gods. But the threatening clouds of Ashtami not only failed to douse the pandal flames, but also the indomitable spirit of Kolkata.
Twice lucky, thrice shy? You never know. At least, the morning held out the hope for a near rain-free Ashtami. After a cloudy Saptami, skies cleared.Sparkling blue with a dash of autumn clouds. But by afternoon the gloom had returned.
Umbrella in tow, puja revellers rushed to the pandals, braving reports of fires that had broken out at the much-hyped Bosepukur Sitalamandir and Santosh Mitra Square.
Around 5.30 pm, when Bosepukur Sitalamandir was preparing for sandhya arati, two women allegedly tried to steal some saris offered to the goddess. In their haste, an oil lamp was overturned and a fire started.
It spread to the wirings, causing a short-circuit. The pandal was plunged into darkness for nearly three hours. By the time three fire tenders arrived, the blaze had been doused.
At Santosh Mitra square, a coffee machine caught fire and burst, injuring a visitor and two boys employed at the coffee shop.
Given the Ashtami rush, these were aberrations. By evening, the number of pandal-hoppers had swelled to lakhs.
Who cares for fire and water? But on Nabami, rains could play spoilsport. The Met office said it could rain, but equally it was possible that the low-pressure trough might clear.
"It is clearing up slowly. Even if there is rain, it will not be for long," said a met official.