GUWAHATI: The deadly stampede at Kolkata’s Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal, which claimed 19 lives, mostly women and children, cast a shadow over the second day of Durga Puja on Sunday, October 18. As grieving families collected the bodies of their loved ones from morgues, the West Bengal government announced a series of safety measures and ordered inspections to ensure compliance at major pandals.
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Seven people, including the secretary and vice-president of the Chorbagan Sarbajanin Durga Puja committee, were arrested in connection with the incident. A local court subsequently remanded them to 10 days of police custody.
On Sunday, October 18, the state government decided to deploy nine IPS officers with experience in Durga Puja crowd management to oversee the festive rush in Kolkata.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, after meeting the stampede victims and their families, indicated that the government may consider ending the practice of providing VIP entry gates at Durga Puja pandals. He also ordered a review of safety arrangements at major puja venues.
A high-level inspection team has been formed under the leadership of State Disaster Management Department Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Fire Services Director General Anuj Sharma and Special Task Force Additional Director General Javed Shamim to assess safety measures.
The stampede broke out around 7:40 PM on Saturday amid heavy rainfall. A sudden downpour reportedly triggered a surge of visitors towards the pandal, leaving people caught in the crowd and trapping those already inside.
Police have registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder in connection with the incident.
Adhikari said the police officer present at the venue had reported that the crowd surge was triggered by an announcement made by a private security agency and the blowing of whistles.
Videos from the site showed an announcer repeatedly asking for the exit gates to be opened while warning people outside not to approach the pandal, saying it appeared to be collapsing. With visitors inside reluctant to leave amid the rain, the crowd outside continued pushing forward, creating pressure from both sides.
The Chief Minister announced compensation of ₹25 lakh and government jobs for the families of those killed. The injured will receive ₹5 lakh each, with the state government bearing their medical expenses.
He also announced a fact-finding committee headed by a sitting High Court judge to investigate the incident.
Meanwhile, the administration has directed several prominent Kolkata puja organisers, including Tala Pratyay, Alipore Sarbojanin, Chetla Agrani and Ballygunge Sarbojanin, to temporarily stop allowing visitors into their pandals as safety arrangements are reviewed.
