Crowds swell at Kolkata markets ahead of Durga puja amid raging pandemic

A sea of people has become a common sight at Kolkata's popular shopping destinations days ahe of Durga Puja, as COVID-19 protocols go for a toss with crowds maintaining precious little social distancing and removing masks at will. "Durga Puja shopping cant wait, corona or corona," Rimpa Saha, a young homemaker, shot back when asked about venturing onto packed markets amid raging pandemic in city.

Saha and thousands like her thronged marketplaces like Gariahat, New Market, Hatibagan on last Sunday before Bengals biggest festival begins.

"We are wearing masks and thing will happen to us. We were stuck at home during entire duration of lockdown, but w everything has opened up," ded Saha, making her way out of a garments shop on Lindsay Street along with her son. Amit Saha, a hawker at Hatibagan in rth Kolkata, h a rey reply for t wearing masks: "I can't speak to my customers with this thing on my mouth".

"Do you kw how we survived all se months? At least, customers have been coming in past two weeks," Saha, who sells garments on pavements, said. scene was different in suburban markets of Sodpur, Dumdum, Garia and Sonarpur.

"It is t possible to enforce social distancing in an ideal manner during time of festivals. However, we are regulating entry and providing santisers to every customer," said Dulal Lahiri, owner of a saree shop in Sodpur.

wave of people on streets of metropolis has triggered concern among health experts, who fear mass infection and a second wave of coronavirus. "We can only hope people will avoid crowding and strictly follow COVID-19 protocols. We have to be aware of situation." Public health expert Kajal Krishna Banik said. COVID-19 death toll in West Bengal went past 6,000-mark on Sunday with 64 more fatalities, even as a record number of 3,983 fresh cases pushed tally to 3,21,036, health department said.