File picture of stunt show Maut ka kuan on the Bali yatra ground in Cuttack in 2009

Cuttack, Nov. 22: Maut ka kuan (well of death), which had been drawing visitors in large numbers from across the state to this city, will not feature in this year’s Bali yatra.

The district administration had denied permission to the organisers of the event citing safety reasons in the last two years, while no application has yet been received for the stunt show this year.

“The dare devil stunt will not be allowed during the Bali yatra, which starts this year from November 28,” said sub-collector J.P. Das.

Following an accident in 2009, the district administration has stopped the show, which was an integral part of Bali yatra for several years here. At least eight persons were injured in 2009 after the temporary stairs leading to the gallery at Maut ka Kuan show caved in. The cops had then immediately shut down the show and arrested three persons, including the owner of the show organising company.

“During my childhood, I used to watch the Maut ka kuan shows every year. But, the shows are not being organised for the last two years,” said Shantanu Das, 58, a city resident.

In the show, stuntmen used to perform death-defying stunts on three motorcycles and two cars along the walls of a wooden well, which was 25ft deep and 50ft wide.

Hundreds of people used to climb up to the gallery to watch the stunt show, which used to last for 10 to 15 minutes. “We have undertaken measures to provide ample scope of entertainment for the visitors and Maut ka kuan has been substituted with a lot of other joy rides at the Bali yatra,” Das added.

City police are authorised to issue licence to various joy rides at Bali yatra.

“A lot of risk is involved in staging stunts in Maut ka kuan. Keeping in view the interest of the people, no permission will be granted to the organisers of such events this year,” said deputy commissioner of police S. Praveen Kumar. Senior police officers also said that many unskilled labourers were deputed to erect giant structures in the show without following safety norms.

A technical committee comprising mechanical engineers, electrical engineers and fire service officials will be constituted to inspect the safety measures adopted by the operators of various joy rides during Bali yatra, said a senior district administration officer.