Heavy Rain Dampens Navami Festivities, Gate Collapse in Teliamura, Sparks Panic Amid Power Outages
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, October 1, 2025
The joy of Durga Puja celebrations was marred across several parts of Tripura as incessant rainfall continued through Navami night, disrupting festive plans for thousands of people. Agartala, along with subdivisions like Teliamura and Sabroom, witnessed heavy downpours on Tuesday night and again on Wednesday evening. With little sunshine throughout the day, many puja revellers lost their enthusiasm, and forecasts suggest the rain may continue on Dashami as well, further clouding the festive mood.
Adding to the woes, widespread power cuts left devotees frustrated across different areas. Residents reported multiple incidents of load shedding in Agartala town, while in Dolugaon, power supply remained disrupted for over two hours despite no stormy weather. Locals expressed disappointment, pointing out that such frequent power failures had not been experienced in recent years, especially during major festivals.
A major scare unfolded in Teliamura on Tuesday night when a massive bamboo gate, built as part of festive lighting decorations, collapsed near Netaji Nagar bridge under Teliamura police station. The structure fell on a moving toto, creating panic among the crowd. Fire service personnel and the disaster management team of Teliamura rushed to the spot, and after prolonged efforts, cleared the gate from the national highway, restoring normal traffic. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, though the sudden accident left locals deeply shaken.
Residents criticised the lack of adequate safety measures, calling the incident a glaring example of negligence during high-footfall events. They urged the administration to strictly monitor puja committees’ construction and safety standards to prevent similar mishaps in the future.
In response, the Progressive Youth Club, one of Teliamura’s oldest puja committees, assured the public that all possible precautions would be taken to ensure visitor safety during adverse weather. The committee also appealed to voluntary organisations to extend support in managing large crowds and unforeseen situations.
This accident serves as a stark reminder that while Durga Puja is a time of joy and celebration, public safety must remain a top priority, especially when unpredictable weather threatens to turn festivities into chaos.
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