Kanwars leave Delhi reeling from boomboxes, no FIRs

Noise levels from processions exceeded permissible limits in multiple zones. DELHI POLLUTION CONTROL COMMITTEE OFFICIAL

- Jasjeev Gandhiok and Hemani Bhandari

For several days this week, loudspeakers blared well past midnight, traffic came to a standstill across major stretches of Delhi —all as thousands of saffron-clad kanwariyas made their way through the Capital.

But even as calls flooded police helplines, not a single FIR was filed by Delhi Police for noise violations or unruly behaviour by the pilgrims since last Friday.

As pilgrims exited the city, the traffic chaos was exacerbated by extended showers that triggered waterlogging in critical stretches.

In the 24 hours till 8.30am, the Safdarjung base weather station logged 14.4mm of rain that, along with the release of 54,707 cusecs of water from Hathinikund barrage, pushed the Yamuna water level two metres closer to the 204.5m warning mark.