Kolkata Police has imposed prohibitory orders in parts of Bowbazar from October 18 to 20 after a stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal killed 19 people and injured 25 during Maha Saptami celebrations. The restrictions prohibit gatherings of five or more people, the carrying of lathis or dangerous weapons, and activities that could disturb public harmony.
The stampede took place on Saturday evening at the north Kolkata pandal amid heavy rain and a sudden rush of visitors. According to West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari, an announcement made by the puja organisers triggered the rush. A police officer said people waiting outside the pandal moved forward as rain began, causing some to fall on the road and setting off the stampede.
The chief minister said 17 of the deceased died at the site. Of the 25 injured, 24 were out of danger while one person remained in critical condition, according to the report. The incident has prompted the administration to review crowd-control arrangements at other heavily attended, theme-based Durga Puja pandals in the city.
Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand issued the prohibitory orders covering parts of Bowbazar. In addition to restricting public assembly, the order bars the carrying of weapons or other dangerous articles and activities that may disrupt public peace. The restrictions are scheduled to remain in force through October 20.
The state government has announced compensation of Rs 25 lakh and a government job for the family of each person who died. It will also bear the full cost of medical treatment for the injured and provide Rs 5 lakh to each of them, the chief minister said.
The government will seek the intervention of the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court to constitute a fact-finding committee, according to Adhikari. The proposed committee would include special task force and forensic teams and examine the circumstances leading to the incident, including the crowd-management arrangements at the pandal.
Kolkata Police’s Anti-Rowdy Section has collected CCTV footage from the site for examination. Officials of the organising club, private security guards and personnel deployed at the venue have been detained for questioning, the chief minister said. The administration has also advised several crowded theme-based Durga Puja pandals to temporarily close following the tragedy. Action will be taken against those found responsible for crowd-management lapses, according to the chief minister’s statement.
