Grand celebration during flood mocks victims

PARADIP: Despite several pockets of the State, and Jagatsinghour in particular, striving to return to normalcy following the recent flood, Biswakarma puja was celebrated amidst much fanfare here on Saturday. However, the large-scale celebrations have dismayed the flood victims of Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara districts, who could not suppress their angst over the mindless celebrations amidst the flood crisis.Biswakarma puja has been an annual affair here ever since the establishment of the port in 1963. This year, 12 large pandals apart from several others in almost every nook and cranny of the town.Celebrations were in full swing at the electrical, marine and maintenance departments of Paradip Port Trust (PPT). The PPT authorities had, however, appealed to the business establishments to scale down the celebrations to express solidarity with the flood victims.  Paradip police station IIC Anil Mishra said eight platoons of force have been deployed to maintain law and order during the five-day celebration.