AGARTALA, Oct 8 (TIWN): spell of rain across Agartala since Wednesday late night has left businessmen, idol makers and puja pandal organizers worried with hardly 10 days remaining for Durga Puja to begin.

India Meteorological Department sources have hinted for more rainfall in the next couple of days.

In Agartala, shopkeepers are worried about how much business would perk up ahead of the Puja if such weather conditions continued to prevail in the state.

A fortnight or 10 days ahead of Durga Puja is the peak time for the sale of the clothes. However, in the past two days, the sale was abysmally down stated a shopkeeper. If such weather conditions prevail, it would deter people from coming out to shop,” said a store owner in the city.

Shopkeepers have been waiting for customers to make a beeline for the past two days as the rain hgas disrupted the puja shopping in the city.

“The consistent drizzle has marred Durga Puja shopping,” said a cloth merchant in the town.

Meanwhile, owing to consistent downpour, people were forced to stay indoors and for those who had exhaustive plans for Durga Puja shopping, the rain played a spoilsport.

Although the weather cleared up in the afternoon, the damage was already done with most parts of the city reeling under artificial flood.

Idol makers who have started using electric and kerosene blowers to dry the idols are also worried. The weather has become damp and there is no sunshine which is very essential in drying the idols. The artisans are now busy on the blowers to dry the idols. It is a time consuming process and the artisans are worried if they will be able to wind up the work in the given date line.

The rain has also put the Durga Puja organizers in trouble.

The workers engaged in the job are somehow doing the interiors but we have to keep the exteriors covered with tarpaulin. There is no option but to wait for the weather to improve.