Ranchi police have intensified security and crowd-control measures at Durga Puja pandals and busy stretches across the city after a stampede at the Chorbagan pandal in north Kolkata killed at least 19 people and injured 25 on Saturday night. The measures include barricades at 144 locations, safety audits, drone surveillance and public-address announcements to regulate devotee movement.
Police officials said Ashtami and Navami would pose the biggest crowd-management challenge as lakhs of devotees from Ranchi and nearby areas are expected to visit major pandals. Large gatherings during the peak evening hours are likely to increase congestion on approach roads and put additional pressure on entry and exit points, officials said.
The heightened security follows a safety audit conducted by Ranchi SSP Rakesh Ranjan on Wednesday. During the inspection, police found that several puja committees were not complying with safety norms. At the Zila School pandal, one of the city’s major crowd attractions, the approach road was found to be narrow.
The SSP directed organisers to ensure that roads leading to pandals remain wide enough for fire tenders and emergency vehicles to reach the venues if required. The instruction places emergency access at the centre of crowd planning, particularly at pandals where visitor volumes can restrict movement on surrounding roads.
SP (City) Paras Rana said police officers had been instructed to conduct another round of safety audits and issue notices to puja committees found violating safety guidelines. “Police are on high alert. Barricades have been installed at 144 locations across the city to regulate traffic and crowd movement. We are using whistles and public address systems to guide devotees at crowded places. Drones are also being used for crowd surveillance,” Rana said.
Puja committees have deployed volunteers at the pandals to assist devotees and support crowd management. Police said volunteers at some venues were helping control movement, but at several locations they were allegedly attempting to divert visitors towards their own pandals. Officials described the practice as a potential “double-edged sword” if volunteers are not coordinated with the police.
The police said close coordination with puja committees would be crucial during the peak evening periods on Ashtami and Navami. The next round of safety audits and notices to committees found violating guidelines are the immediate enforcement steps announced by the Ranchi police.
