Clouds looming over Barak Valley, forecast-thundershowers; Puja committees assure “well prepared”

Durga Puja is just three days away and the dark clouds looming over Barak Valley have started to worry many. Then comes the recent spell of drizzles which is giving the puja committee members and pandal decorators a really hard time. Most of the big-budget Puja pandals keep the finishing touches for last so that a fresh piece of creative work welcomes visitors.

According to the meteorological department, Silchar is going to remain overcast up to October 5, 2019. Department has predicted that the clouds will be accompanied by one or two spells of rain or thundershowers. Thereafter from October 6, it suggested that the rain may get heavier.

Skymet, a private Indian weather forecaster estimated Silchar to receive an average rainfall of 4mm every day up to October 6 (Maha Asthami), thereafter it may increase a bit. “We expect scattered rains to continue over Assam during the next few days. Thereafter, from October 5, the intensity of the rains would increase once again and there would be only a few moderate spells with one or two heavy spells,” Skymet’s statement read.

How is the weather forecast bothering Puja Committees? “Not much, we took the necessary measures,” says Shankar Roy, secretary, Udharbond Kalibari Durga Puja Committee. Talking to Barak Bulletin, Roy said that they were well aware of the fact that rain could play a spoilsport this year.

“As the puja is a bit earlier this time, there is a full possibility of rain to cause inconvenience. We, therefore, chose to build the pandal with bamboo as the rain won’t impact that. We have used CC blocks in the approach road to the pandal so that people can walk in comfortably in the queue or while they stand to wait for their turn. We are inaugurating the pandal today evening so that people get more time to visit our pandal,” added Roy.

Ambikapur Purbopara O Hospital road Durga Puja committee which is celebrating its 100th anniversary too said that they were well prepared to combat the challenges that rain could force on them. “Today’s and tomorrow’s preparation is important for us. Rain is creating some trouble but we are working overtime. We have made the base of all gates very strong to avoid any inconvenience,” said Tamal Kanti Banik, former SMB chairperson and a member of the puja committee.