Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation and commissionerate police will jointly inspect Durga Puja pandals, temporary structures, electrical installations, hoardings and vulnerable trees across the city after weather warnings forecast rain and gusty winds during the festive period.
The civic body has directed its zonal deputy commissioners to begin immediate precautionary measures in response to an India Meteorological Department warning about an impending cyclonic storm and severe weather. All inspections and required safety work must be completed before October 12, with zonal compliance reports submitted to the BMC on the same day.
In a communication to zonal deputy commissioners, the BMC said immediate preventive and precautionary measures were required across all its zones. BMC additional commissioner Kailash Chandra Dash said strong winds and heavy rainfall could create risks around unstable temporary structures, overhead electrical wiring and large hoardings.
Officials will inspect puja pandals, entry gates and decorative installations to assess their structural stability and ability to withstand strong winds. Puja committees have been asked to reinforce weak structures and remove vulnerable overhead gates that could collapse during adverse weather. Decorative lighting on road medians will not be permitted under the safety measures.
A joint electrical safety audit will also cover temporary power connections, wiring arrangements, generator placement and earthing systems at the pandals. Loose, exposed or unsafe electrical installations will be repaired or disconnected immediately, according to the civic authorities. The checks are intended to reduce the risk of electric shocks, short circuits and fires in crowded festival areas.
The BMC has separately ordered a citywide inspection of commercial hoardings, flex banners, billboards and temporary display frames. Damaged, oversized, weak or unauthorised structures will be removed to lower the risk of collapse during high winds. The inspection will cover displays located near roads and other public areas where falling structures could affect pedestrians and vehicles.
The safety response will also include emergency communication channels linking puja committees, field supervisors and response teams. These channels are intended to support faster action if weather-related incidents occur during the celebrations.
The municipal corporation has begun a tree-trimming drive using a 26-metre hydraulic ladder. The work is focused on removing vulnerable branches and reducing risks to pedestrians and traffic during the forecast weather conditions.
The inspections come as temporary festival infrastructure increases activity on roads and around public spaces across Bhubaneswar. The authorities’ instructions place responsibility on civic officials and puja committees to identify and rectify structural, electrical and display-related hazards before the October 12 deadline.
