Kolkata traffic police filed 833 cases and arrested 61 people during the second Saptami night of Durga Puja for violations including helmetless riding, triple riding and driving under the influence of alcohol, according to figures released by the city police headquarters at Lalbazar.
The enforcement action covered roads across Kolkata as the city saw large crowds visiting puja pandals. Police had earlier announced increased surveillance and security arrangements during the festival, when traffic volumes and pedestrian movement rise sharply through the night.
The largest group of cases—269—was filed against people accused of riding motorcycles without helmets. Police also recorded 148 cases involving triple riding, in which three people were travelling on a single motorcycle. The violations were recorded during the second Saptami night, when police intensified checks across the city.
A further 120 cases were registered against motorists accused of driving while intoxicated. Another 169 people faced cases under other provisions of the traffic law, according to the list released by Lalbazar. The police report did not provide a separate breakdown of the locations where each violation was recorded.
The enforcement figures marked a sharp increase compared with the preceding Puja nights. The source report said that the total number of traffic-law cases had been around 450 up to the first Saptami. The number subsequently rose to 833 during the second Saptami night, while the number of arrests also exceeded the figures recorded on Shashti and the first Saptami.
The latest figures underline the operational challenge faced by Kolkata during the festival: police must manage dense vehicle movement while protecting pedestrians and monitoring conduct that can increase the risk of serious crashes. Helmet use, passenger limits on two-wheelers and sobriety checks are among the violations being targeted through the night-time enforcement drive.
Kolkata Police said traffic surveillance would continue and be strengthened during the remaining Puja nights. Further enforcement figures and arrests are expected to be reflected in subsequent police updates as the city’s festival traffic operations continue.
