West Bengal extends COVID-19 curbs till 30 Oct; allows movement of people at night during Durga Puja

Kolkata: The West Bengal government on Thursday extended the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions till 30 October  but allowed movement of people and vehicles at night during the Durga Puja festival from 10-20 October, according to an order. Durga Puja will be celebrated from 10 to 15 October, while Lakshmi Puja will be held on 20 October. The government has made an exception in the night curfew rule in view of the festival as a large number of people visit puja pandals at night in Kolkata and elsewhere. “In continuation of the earlier order, restriction and relaxation measures as already in force stand extended up to 30 October…. In view of the ensuing festive period the said restriction relating to movement of people and vehicles between 11 pm to 5 am is relaxed during 10 to 20 October,” the order read. The government, however, has decided not to allow local trains to run, though Metro Railway trains would continue to be operational. The order shall come into effect from 1 October.