Bengal: East Midnapore pandal goes up in flames hours before Kali Puja inauguration

Midnapore, Nov 7 (UNI) A Kali Puja pandal was reduced to ashes in a fire at Kalibazar in Jashora, under Panskura police station in West Bengal's East Midnapore district, on Saturday afternoon, just hours before its scheduled inauguration. The blaze broke out around 5 pm when artisans were putting the finishing touches to the pandal organised by the Kalibazar Byabsayi Samiti. The fire rapidly engulfed the entire structure, destroying the elaborate theme-based decorations within minutes and leaving the organisers staring at the remains of their festive preparations. Thick plumes of smoke billowing over the neighbourhood triggered panic among residents, who…