Cuttack, Nov 9 (UDN): Diwali celebrations in Cuttack witnessed a tense turn on Sunday night after a confrontation between police personnel and local residents over firecracker bursting beyond the permitted hours escalated into a scuffle at Nayasadak Chhak.

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The situation reportedly became heated after police intervened to stop people from bursting firecrackers after 9 pm, leading to a heated exchange between the two sides. The argument soon turned physical, with pushing and shoving reported at the spot.

Woman ACP Ananya Awasthi was also allegedly pushed by some individuals during the altercation as tensions escalated.

Additional Police Force Deployed At Nayasadak

Following the confrontation, tension prevailed in the Nayasadak area, prompting authorities to deploy additional police personnel to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.

Police teams remained stationed in the locality until midnight and maintained a close watch to ensure that no fresh confrontation took place.

The incident brought the enforcement of firecracker restrictions during the festive celebrations into focus, with authorities facing challenges in ensuring compliance with the prescribed timings.

Firecracker Sparks Suspected Behind Cuttack Fire

Meanwhile, Diwali celebrations also posed firefighting challenges in different parts of the city, with multiple fire incidents reported.

In one such incident, a fire broke out inside the Material Collection Centre (MCC) premises of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) at Tinigharia under Chauliaganj police station limits.

After receiving information, fire service personnel rushed to the location and launched an operation to bring the blaze under control. Preliminary suspicion points to sparks from firecrackers as a possible cause of the fire. However, the exact cause was yet to be established.

Authorities Face Challenges During Festive Celebrations

The confrontation at Nayasadak and the reported fire incidents have highlighted the challenges faced by the administration in maintaining public order and ensuring safety during large-scale festive celebrations.

While police personnel were deployed to enforce restrictions on firecracker bursting, the incidents have once again underlined the need for public cooperation and responsible celebrations to prevent avoidable accidents and law-and-order problems.

Further details regarding the Nayasadak confrontation and the suspected cause of the Tinigharia fire are awaited.