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Bhubaneswar, March 21: At least 59 Holi revellers were arrested yesterday for driving under the influence of liquor while fines were collected from 345 persons for violating different sections of the Motor Vehicles Act and Orissa Urban Police Act 2003.

Sources said as many as 20 people also sustained injuries in road accidents across the city and were admitted to different hospitals.

Police patrolling had been intensified throughout the city on Holi. Fifteen police control room vehicles had been deployed to patrol across the city and keep a watch on unruly revellers.

“We had warned people not to get drunk on Holi,” said a senior police officer, adding that although most of the residents followed the instructions, some deviated and hence were punished.

Before Holi, commissioner of police B.K. Sharma had said that people who were drunk and the ones creating trouble would be arrested unlike the previous years when they were let off with fines and detained for a day. The police control room vehicles had been patrolling the city. All the police stations were ordered to use breath analysers to check drunk drivers.

“Those driving vehicles dangerously were stopped and we arrested them as they were found guilty,” said the police officer, adding that 59 persons were arrested yesterday and were produced in court today. He also said that these persons were arrested for drunk driving and causing nuisance in public.

The police said that the residents of the city co-operated with the police this Holi, which is why the number of arrests was less this time. The locals also praised the efforts of the police.

“Earlier there used to be drunk driving and several accidents happening in the city. But this year there were very few such mishaps,” said Rati Kant Sahoo, a resident of Baramunda.

At least 20 people have been reported to sustain injuries in accidents in the city while celebrating Holi. They were admitted to different hospitals in the city. As most of them had minor injuries they were discharged after preliminary treatment.

“Around 10 people had been admitted to the Capital Hospital yesterday,” said a hospital source.