Decorative light gate collapses in Dhenkanal ahead of Gajalaxmi Puja, sparks safety concerns

A large decorative light gate collapsed in Dhenkanal ahead of Gajalaxmi Puja celebrations, triggering panic and traffic disruption in the area.

The gate, erected near the Dakshinakali area as part of the festive decorations, came crashing down before the puja festivities could begin. The installation, which featured lighting equipment worth around ₹1.5 lakh, was completely damaged in the incident.

The collapse led to traffic snarls and inconvenience for commuters and local residents. Authorities are assessing the cause of the mishap, and steps are being taken to clear the debris and restore normalcy in the area.

Following the incident, officials from the local Town Police station and the Fire Services department promptly arrived at the scene to manage the situation and ensure safety. No reports of injuries have been confirmed at the time of reporting.

The mishap has raised concerns over the safety standards of temporary festive installations in public spaces during major celebrations.

ALSO READ: Durga Puja: Grand immersion ceremony begins in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar; 122 platoons of police force deployed

Rakesh Pradhan, a local resident said, "The cost of the gate is ₹1.4 lakh. Before its installation, we had clearly instructed and even warned the tent team that the structure might not stand firmly. However, they assured us that there would be no issue and took full responsibility in case anything went wrong. Unfortunately, the gate collapsed due to their negligence. It was not installed securely, which ultimately led to this incident."

Sadhu Charan Mallick, member of the Bazaar Committee, said, “The gate was installed in front of the Hospital chak. However, the team responsible did not carry out their work properly and had left a six-foot-deep hole at the site. Despite only light rain and mild wind, the structure was unable to withstand the conditions. We repeatedly urged them to install the gate securely, but they assured us there would be no issues. Due to their negligence, the gate collapsed, leading to significant traffic disruption in the area.”