While a few states have come up with night curfews or other restrictions in view of latest concerns of new covid strains in the United Kingdom, the Jharkhand government has not yet announced any fresh advisories for the New Year bash on December 31 as well as January 1.

However, the state disaster management department has urged revelers to maintain restraint and follow all the prescribed Covid safety norms in public places.

As per the last advisory issued by the government ahead of Diwali, Chhath and subsequent festivals, the gathering limit has been increased to 200 indoors and 300 outdoors while the bursting of crackers is allowed only for 10 minutes from 11.55pm on December 31 to 12.05 am on January 1.

Meanwhile, several district administrations have stepped up vigil both in terms of maintaining law and order and compliance of covid safety protocols.

In Ranchi, the district administration has decided to press vehicles for random Covid checks at popular picnic spots in and around the capital on January 1.

Deputy Commissioner Chhavi Ranjan said that the decision has been made in view of Ranchi continuing to get a major share of new infections on a daily basis out of the total cases in the state. On Wednesday, Ranchi got 87 out of 233 new cases while two fatalities were reported from the capital.

“At popular falls and water bodies, wherever, people usually head in large numbers on January 1 every year, we will deploy mobile Covid testing vans for random testing. All those, who are caught violating norms like not using masks, overcrowding and others, will be made to take Covid tests,” Ranjan said, expressing concern over the increasing trend in Ranchi’s Covid-19 infections.

“If required, we shall also go for slapping of cases against the violators,” he added.

For the new year bash, the district administration in Ranchi has also issued guidelines to mandate all pubs, hotels and the likes, who have lined up programmes on the eve of new year, to maintain proper logs of the visitors.

“We have already sent directives to all hotels, clubs and the likes to maintain a proper register of all the incoming visitors with their details of phone number and addresses,” Ranjan said.

He added that the organisers have been asked to ensure that all safety protocols are maintained.

“Party organisers will have to ensure social distancing, sanitisation facilities, and masks are available to one and all. Random checks will be done and strict action will be initiated on erring entities,” the DC said.

Ranchi SP Saurabh said that patrolling teams both in four wheelers and two wheelers have already been implemented in sensitive areas where accidents or brawls were reported in the past.

“On both days starting from Thursday, our focus will be to totally curb drunk driving, overspeeding and the likes to prevent accidents, for which both in rural and city areas random vehicle checking drives are already on,” he said.

He added that police teams will be deployed at key areas where hotels and clubs are located for the safety of the public, while urging people to follow all safety guidelines.

Police will also be deploying divers at key waterfalls and water bodies to prevent mishaps. Rural SP Naushad Alam warned picnickers from consuming liquor at public places.

Similar advisory was issued in East Singhbhum too earlier this week and the administration has also put a ban on loud music at party hotspots after 10 pm.

No DJ beyond 10 pm in steel city, as 'coronavirus is very much there'

While the residents of Jamshedpur seem to filled with the enthusiasm for celebrating the year end and the New Year in and around the steel city, dark cloud of Covid-19 which still hovers over the sky of the has led the district police to dampen the spirit of revellers.

Unlike previous years there will be no New Year eve-bash given the district police's instruction not to hold DJ functions beyond 10 pm in public places and also in the hotels on the year end celebration.

Senior superintendent of Police, Jamshedpur, M. Tamil Vanan while addressing media on Thursday said in the event of the DJ service is allowed beyond the 10 pm point, since people tend to hug each other while wishing a new year at the click of 12 o'clock, thus contributing to the spread of Covid-19

"Coronavirus is very much there. By Wednesday night 40 new cases of Covid was reported in the East Singhbhum district whereas the daily figure of new cases in the district would fluctuate between 15 to 20 for the past fortnight. We have to see that all norms against the spread of Coronavirus like use of sanitizers and wearing masks are maintained by the people, even during the year end and New Year celebration," said Vanan.

Significantly, the streets will also not bustle with activities on the New Year either. With the Jubilee Park -- the main crowd puller -- remaining shut on the New Year too, most of the revellers will throng to Dimna for picnicking. But the majority of the revellers are unlikely to visit the picturesque Dimna as the district health department officials will subject the visitors to Covid test.

Replying to queries, the senior SP pointed out that they have put up over 20 armed police beside five police officers at Dimna Lake area for Friday.

"In all 22 checking points have been set up en route to Dimna and also Bhurudih Dam in Ghatsila from the city for both the year end as well as the New Year celebration. We anticipate the new year celebration will pass on peacefully with so much checking on road beside the restrictions at the picnic spots," said the senior police officer, adding that those found unmasked will be taken to task.

In the city, Bistupur Main Road happens to be a place of attractions for the year-end revellers who will have to spend the New Year eve amidst the deployment of heavy police force.

Police officials keep vigil at the Dimna picnic spot in Jamshedpur on Thursday. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Dhanbad administration to keep eye on popular tourist spots

In a similar bid, the Dhanbad District Administration has issued guidelines for new year celebration and also made sufficient deployment of security forces at strategic locations.

The police have deployed forces in highways including Highways including at National Highway-2 and National Highway-32, where incidents of drunk driving are frequent.

“The district administration team led by the Sub Divisional Officer of Dhanbad will carry out inspection of different picnic spots from Thursday night and ensure strict observance of Covid-related guidelines,” ADM (Law and Order) Chandan Kumar said.

Dhanbad SSP Aseem Vikrant Minz said, “We have made sufficient deployment of security forces at all picnic spots, highways and religious places.”

“The focus will be on religious places as huge congregations of people arriving to seek blessings ahead of the new year are witnessed at these places,” said Minz.

“Though it is practically not feasible to restrict people gathering at the site, we have instructed our officials to ensure gatherings happen at a specific time and regulate the crowd in order to avoid violation of Covid norms,” he added.

Meanwhile, in Egyarkund, where the major picnic spot of district Maithon Dam is situated, the district administration led by Dhanbad Block Development Officer, Vijendra Prasad has instructed local fisherman committees to ensure strict observance of all Covid guidelines. They have been asked not to carry more than the allotted number of persons in boats and steamers, and to wear masks mandatorily among others.

Similar arrangement has been made by the Binod Bihari Mahto Smarak Samiti at Bhatinda Falls in Moonidih area of Dhanbad.

Authorities provide masks to the tourists at the main entrance of Bhatinda Falls in Moonidih, Dhanbad on Thursday to ensure Covid-related norms. Picture by Gautam Dey

Special helpdesk set up for tourists at Koderma

In Koderman’s Tilaiya Dam Superintendent of Police (SP) Ehtesham Waquarib visited the area to set up a helpdesk for picknikers and tourists.

Waquarib said policemen deployed at this helpdesk will keep eyes on hooligans and if any such incident happens, they will immediately take appropriate actions.

The dam attracts a large number of tourists around this time, which is why incidents of eve teasing surges.

Koderma SP Ehtesham Waquarib visits the Tilaiya Dam on Thursday, in Koderma. Picture by Vishvendu Jaipuriar

Waquarib said he has made available two bikes, life jackets and rope to the helpdesk, asking Tilaiya Dam outpost officer-in-charge Vishal Pandey to ensure proper patrolling in this area and to take legal action against troublemakers.

The Koderma SSP asked people to enjoy their time at this picturesque location but not to create trouble for anyone. He asked them to follow Ccovid guidelines to remain safe from infection.