Chorbagan stampede fallout: Fire safety notices to three Kolkata Durga Puja committees

The West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services Department has issued notices to three prominent south Kolkata Durga Puja committees over alleged fire safety lapses following the Chorbagan pandal stampede that claimed 19 lives, officials said on Monday.

The notices were issued to Chetla Agrani, Ballygunge Cultural Association and Tridhara Sammilani after a high-level fire services team inspected major pandals and found shortcomings in safety arrangements, they said.

On Sunday, the department directed the immediate removal of unauthorised temporary commercial structures and hazardous stalls near the pandals, citing serious fire safety concerns, particularly the presence of LPG cylinders near structures made of highly inflammable materials.

Officials also stressed the need for adequate lighting and ventilation inside pandals to eliminate dark spots, ensure visibility and facilitate crowd management. They called for the installation of sufficient fans and air-conditioning units to improve ventilation and prevent overcrowding and suffocating conditions.

Debashis Kumar, a senior functionary of Tridhara Sammilani, told PTI on Monday, "We got the NOC from the department before going ahead with the inauguration."

"No highly inflammable material was used and there was proper lighting from the entrance and along the pathway. We told the team that all fire safety measures concerning crowd control are being used and sent them a compliance report," he said.

He added that the movement and management of thousands of visitors were being coordinated with Kolkata Police, civil defence authorities and the civic body.

Ballygunge Cultural Association was asked to improve lighting inside its pandal and ensure that commercial activities did not obstruct entry and exit routes, an official said.

A senior functionary of the puja committee said, "We are implementing all standard procedures with regard to safety precautions and facilitating the smooth passage of thousands of visitors. We have improved lighting and ensured that the entry of revellers is not blocked or hindered on the way to the pandal, starting from the side of Rasbehari Avenue and Triangular Park."

No official of Chetla Agrani could be contacted for comment.

The inspections followed a stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata on Saturday, which killed 19 people and injured several others. The incident prompted the state government to intensify scrutiny of crowd management and safety arrangements at major Durga Puja venues.