A warning that a Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata was at risk of collapsing may have triggered panic before a stampede that killed 19 people and injured 25, police said on Sunday. Investigators are examining a video of the microphone announcement, the crowd movement inside and around the venue, and the role of the organisers in managing visitors.
The announcement told visitors that the pandal was in very poor condition and could collapse, followed by an appeal to leave. Kolkata Police is trying to identify who made the announcement and establish what prompted it. The video is being examined as investigators reconstruct the sequence of events at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal.
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. Police said the warning may have contributed to the crush, while the exact circumstances surrounding the announcement remain under investigation.
The officer said investigators had gathered evidence pointing to gross mismanagement by the puja organisers. According to the police, there was no clear plan for handling the large number of visitors and crowd management was conducted verbally. Officials are also examining whether the deployment of police personnel and private security guards was inadequate.
The pandal gates and the approach road were narrow, police said. As panic spread, visitors attempted to move out through the entrance, contributing to the crush. Investigators are also examining announcements related to entry, exit and crowd movement, which police said were inadequate and left visitors confused during the rush. CCTV footage has been collected and statements from local residents, eyewitnesses and survivors are being recorded to cross-check accounts.
A forensic team visited the site on Saturday night to collect evidence, and another team is expected to conduct further examinations. Police said survivor statements would help reconstruct how the crowd entered, moved through and attempted to leave the pandal area.
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. Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari blamed the alleged callousness of the organisers and said the incident would be investigated.
Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Kumar Nand has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita on roads adjoining the pandal until October 20. Of the 25 injured people, 14 were undergoing treatment at a private hospital on Sunday, including three in intensive care. 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.
