SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Jan 1: The third wave of Corona pandemic and Section 144 imposed by the district administration failed to dampen the New Year picnic spirit of people on January 1 in Dhanbad, Giridih and Bokaro districts today.
With the sunrise in the morning, a large crowd of celebrators descended on the popular picnic spots, particularly Maithon, DVC’s Panchet dam, Topchanchi Lake, Bhatinda Fall, Birsa Munda Park, and other locations.
Even in well-known coal city temples like Shakti Mandir Joraphatak Road, Khareswary Temple near the golf course, Bhuiphore Mandir Govindpur, and Kalyaneswari Mandir Nirsa, a large crowd of devotees with family members were spotted early in the morning, despite the risk of Covid infection.
“We know the dangers of the Corona pandemic and imposition of Section 144 at picnic spots and restaurants as per the order of the district administration. But we are following Covid-19 guidelines as well as social distance with others to avoid infection,” said Arindam Chatterjee of Asansol (Bengal) who had come to Maithon dam for the New Year celebration.
Since Covid cases have shot up in the last seven days to 109 including 24 on December 31, the Dhanbad district administration has imposed Section 144 in restaurants, hotels and picnic spots till 12 a.m. on January 2. A senior official of the district administration said that relaxation has been given but masks and social distancing are mandatory for visitors at the picnic spots.
“January 1 comes only once in a year while Corona has become a regular resident in the last two years. There is no guarantee that next year the Covid danger will not appear. So we did not want to miss celebrating this (January 1) auspicious day. We have come to celebrate while maintaining protocol for safety,” said Deepak Sahay of the coal city at Bhatinda Fall in Putki.
Though the district administration has deployed the magistrate with a heavy police force at all spots where people gather on January 1 to celebrate, picnickers were allowed to enjoy while maintaining social distance. Vaccination and testing facilities have also been arranged at all picnic spots.
