Another mishap during Cuttack Durga Puja; 3 injured after Rajabagicha Puja pandal ceiling collapses

Festive mood turned to panic at Rajabagicha near Badambadi Square in Cuttack on Wednesday after a portion of the ceiling at the local puja mandap collapsed, injuring three people. The incident took place on Maha Navami, one of the busiest days of Durga Puja, when thousands of devotees had thronged pandals across the Silver City amid heavy rains and gusty winds.

According to eyewitnesses, a two-foot section of the ceiling suddenly caved in around 2 pm. The portion was reportedly supporting bamboo poles that held up the decorative front gate of the pandal.

With the added weight of the structure and the pressure from the day’s heavy wind, the load became unsustainable. Debris fell directly onto devotees standing beneath, injuring two women and a man.

Injured Shifted To SCB Hospital

Members of the Rajabagicha Puja Committee, along with locals, immediately shifted the injured to SCB Medical College and Hospital.

Police reached the spot shortly after, cordoned off the pandal, and restricted entry until safety checks could be conducted. 

College Square Collapse Adds To Concerns

The Rajabagicha accident happened within minutes of another mishap in Cuttack, where a nearly 40-foot decorative light gate collapsed at College Square in front of Ravenshaw University.

While no casualties were reported there due to police cordoning off the area beforehand, the parallel incidents have intensified scrutiny over the safety of temporary decorative installations.

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Weather Warnings Ignored

Earlier, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued repeated alerts for heavy rainfall and strong winds caused by a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal. Despite this, nearly 400 large gates and bamboo-supported pandals were erected across major roads and intersections, reported sources.

Following the twin incidents, the Commissionerate Police said it has extended monitoring to other prominent sites in the city.

As of the last reports, no officials from the district administration had reached the Rajabagicha pandal. Official comments are awaited on both incidents.