In pics: Mamata Banerjee in Sunderbans, chess tournament and more latest news from Kolkata

(From left) Chief minister Mamata Banerjee offers prayers at a Bonbibi temple in the Sunderbans on Tuesday. Actress and Lok Sabha MP Nusrat Jahan with the CM. Banerjee exchanges greetings with priests of Bonbibi temple. Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday stalled a programme in North 24 Parganas and pulled up the district magistrate over his failure to bring to the venue the blankets and winter garments she has bought for distribution among locals. Banerjee, in the presence of locals, asked district magistrate Sharad Dwivedi to make arrangements to bring the garments to the venue at the earliest. Thousands of people had gathered at Hingalgunj for the programme, organized for doling out government scheme benefits and caste certificates. "I've brought 15,000 winter garments, blankets for the locals. Where have you kept them? Bring them to me immediately. I'll not continue with the programme till you get those. I'll wait here," Banerjee told Dwivedi. The CM, who is in the district on a two-day visit, also warned the DM, and other officials of stern action for such lapses. "I'm sorry, but I'll have to take action in case the DM and block development officers don't carry out their responsibilities properly," she added. Around 15 minutes later, bunches of shawls were brought to the venue. The CM then announced that she would be distributing 1,000 shawls among local women. Earlier in the day, the CM, who reached here on Tuesday afternoon in a helicopter, offered prayers to local deity 'Bonbibi' at a temple here and planted a tree

The newly restored Outram Ghat jetty is decorated for inauguration. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee virtually inaugurated the jetty from Hingalgunj on November 29. The CM inaugurated eight other jetties which included Gadiyara, Ratanbabur Ghat, Panihati, Rashmoni Ferry Ghat, Nababgunj Ferry Ghat, Debitala, Bansberia and Gourhati

(From left) Chess players contemplate their next move at India’s Biggest Chess Tournament organised by Tata Steel at Bhasha Bhawan Auditorium, National Library, Kolkata, on November 29. Young chess players plan their moves on a huge chessboard outside the venue of the event. Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand, who is now deputy president of world governing body FIDE, attended the tournament

(Left) A dengue awareness drive in progress in the city. (Right) Puddles of stagnant water being sprayed with mosquito repellent liquid to prevent mosquito breeding. The last several months have seen a sharp increase in the number of dengue patients as authorities clamour to raise awareness about the vector-borne disease and necessary precautions

A glimpse of Victoria Memorial covered in the morning smog on Tuesday. The city has been experiencing poor air quality over the last week. As the government grapples with the mode of action plan they need to follow, Kolkata’s air pollution has increased manifold during the last week. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data reveals that on November 21, the Air Quality Index (AQI) of Kolkata was 150, which is considered ‘moderate’. However, on November 27, the AQI was recorded to be 241 (‘poor’) — a 60 per cent rise in just a week’s time. The most toxic air pollutant — ultra fine particulate PM 2.5 – was the triggering factor behind the AQI leap