The cracker of a spectacle of fire engulfing the giant 10-headed Ravan and reducing it to ashes, symbolising victory of good over evil, will give Jamshedpur a miss this year.
Ram Mandir Ravan Dahan Samiti in Sonari will not be able to host the annual grand event on Dussehra as it involves a lot of risks given the rundown condition of Ram Mandir grounds ' venue for the show.
The other times when Ravan Dahan was not organised in the steel city were in 1997 and 1998.
"The Ram Mandir grounds is not fit to host Ravan Dahan. There are pits about three to four feet deep and a drain without barricades at several points. With lakhs of people turning up on Dussehra, we cannot rule out accidents for which the samiti will be held responsible," said Narottam Das, president of Ram Mandir Ravan Dahan Samiti, Sonari.
Then there is the encroachment problem. People have kept iron rods on the premises that have not been removed for months, he added.
Samiti members claimed that they had urged Jusco to repair the grounds several times but in vain. They also blamed the fire brigade for never responding to their calls of ensuring adequate security.
The fire department, however, pleaded helplessness. "We can't depute teams at every place and need instructions from the administration," said Mahanand Singh, district fire officer.
The other venue where Ravan Dahan is held, albeit on a much smaller scale, is at Bagunhatu, about 10-11km from Sonari.
