New Year celebrations in Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow, Jan 1 (IANS) Braving intense cold and ignoring endless traffic jams, thousands of people across Uttar Pradesh ushered in the New Year with singing and dancing, or dining out with friends and family.

People thronged to the roads here in Hazratganj and cheered as the clock struck 12 at midnight, giving some anxious moments to the police posse deployed to prevent any untoward incident.

A high-decibel party was organised at the Taj Vivanta hotel where hundreds of youngsters danced to high volume music. People thronged the Wave, Sahara Gaj, Phoneix, Fun Republic Malls to shop and dine out.

Two people were arrested at a restaurant in Hazratganj for celebrating a party without the requisite permission.

Police checked vehicles at many places here. No reports of drunken driving or any other untoward incident has been reported from anywhere in the state, a police official told IANS.

Reports of celebrations have also come in from Meerut, Kanpur, Agra, Bulandshahr, Firozabad, Etawah, Mainpuri, Shrawasti, Amethi, Faizabad and Gorakhpur.

The Chief Minister's Office also issued a statement late Wednesday greeting people on the New Year and promising development and prosperity in the year 2015.