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20h ago

Leicester Scales Back Diwali to Lights, Road Closure and Ferris Wheel on Oct. 20

Officials say last year’s 55,000-strong crowd exposed near-crush risks, with blocked evacuation routes.

People fill the road after the Diwali lights were switched on in Leicester in Britain. (File photo: Reuters)
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Overview

  • Leicester City Council confirmed there will be no fireworks, stage show or Diwali Village this year following Safety Advisory Group advice.
  • Belgrave Road on the Golden Mile will be closed to traffic on October 20, with 6,000 LED lanterns and the Wheel of Light as the key attractions.
  • The multi-agency group cited uncontrolled crowd density, limited evacuation options and restricted emergency access after recent near-crush incidents.
  • MPs Shivani Raja and Neil O’Brien are pressing police and government to revisit the decision after community and business plans were rejected.
  • Leicestershire Police are separately investigating an unauthorised Aug. 25 Ganesha procession and have issued seizure warnings and community protection notices.