A Ram Navami procession that was set to start from Street 296 in New Town on March 26 was disrupted by a sudden hailstorm that sent the devotees gathered in DB Block helter-skelter.

Most rushed to the ground floors of under-construction buildings for cover as sharp ice pellets lashed down with the rain. Neither the Ram Darbar idols nor the Hanuman had any cover overhead. “They had some plastic sheets at hand and managed to cover the clay idols even as the rain came pouring,” said a policeman on duty.

There was a heavy law enforcement deployment for the procession, with a busload of Central forces reinforcing personnel from the local police station.

Once the rain stopped after about half an hour, the rallyists regrouped and the procession started. Dozens of saffron flags were handed around from a makeshift shed of bamboo poles and slatted panels that locals said had come up less than a year ago.

“This is our third year of the procession. Earlier, we used to bring this out from CC Block. We shifted here because of the temple that has come up,” said Shubhadip Deb Roy, one of the organisers, referring to the shed.

The idols were procured from Mridha Market near Jagatpur in Rajarhat, he said. Pocket calendars were handed out with pictures of akalbodhan. “We want to tell people that Ram has a link with Durga puja, and hence Bengal,” he added. The procession followed a route via 18 tala crossing, The Newtown School, NKDA Market, before winding up at AB Block puja ground.