A stampede occurred at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal, leading to 19 fatalities and multiple injuries.
KOLKATA: “The condition of the pandal is very bad. It will collapse. Please leave.” A microphone announcement warning visitors that the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal was at risk of collapsing may have triggered panic and contributed to a stampede that killed 19 people and injured 25 in north Kolkata on Saturday evening, police said on Sunday.A video of the announcement, which is being examined by Kolkata Police, captures the warning that the pandal could collapse. Police are trying to identify who made the announcement and establish what prompted it.Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari blamed the alleged callousness of the organisers and said the tragedy would be investigated. He also suggested that the announcement made by the puja committee over the microphone may have triggered the crush.
A senior police officer said preliminary findings pointed to a combination of poor crowd management, confusing announcements and a sudden surge of visitors seeking shelter from a downpour during Saptami celebrations.“We have gathered sufficient evidence pointing to gross mismanagement by the puja organisers. There was no clear plan to manage the large number of visitors, and everything was handled verbally,” the officer said.
Police have collected CCTV footage and recorded statements from locals and eyewitnesses. Investigators are also examining whether inadequate deployment of police personnel and private security guards worsened the situation.
According to police, the gates and approach road to the pandal were narrow. As panic spread, visitors attempted to escape through the entrance, contributing to the crush. Announcements regarding entry, exit and crowd movement were also inadequate, leaving people confused amid the rush.Police said they would question survivors to cross-check eyewitness accounts and reconstruct the sequence of events. A forensic team visited the site on Saturday night to collect evidence, with another team expected to conduct further examinations.Meanwhile, Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Kumar Nand imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita on roads adjoining the pandal until October 20.The state government has announced compensation of Rs 25 lakh and a Group D government job for the family of each deceased victim. It has also constituted a panel to review safety protocols at major Durga Puja pandals and recommend immediate corrective measures wherever shortcomings are found.
Of the 25 injured, 14 were undergoing treatment at a private hospital on Sunday, with three in the intensive care unit. One patient was in critical condition, while the other two ICU patients were showing signs of improvement, West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission chairman Biswajit Basu said.