A man uses the hand-washing facilities at the Khamarbari Puja Mandap, installed as precautionary measures against the spread of the coronavirus. Durga Puja celebrations began yesterday, but due to torrential rain throughout the afternoon and fear of the Covid-19 pandemic, the turnout was much thinner compared to other years. PHOTO: ORCHID CHANGMA
This man, spotted walking off with a fledgeling pond heron in the capital’s Baily Road yesterday, said the bird fell from a tree and he is taking it away as a pet. Locals, however, said a large number of herons nested in the trees of the area during the last six months when the ever-bustling city practically went to sleep. Now that usual life has returned, some floating people often pick up young birds from the trees and take them away. PHOTO: PRABIR DAS
