The West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services Department has issued notices to three prominent south Kolkata Durga Puja committees after inspections found alleged shortcomings in fire safety arrangements, days after a stampede at a north Kolkata pandal killed 19 people and injured several others.
The notices were issued to Chetla Agrani, Ballygunge Cultural Association and Tridhara Sammilani following inspections by a high-level fire services team, officials said. The action comes as state authorities intensify scrutiny of crowd management and safety arrangements at major Durga Puja venues across the city.
The department had directed the immediate removal of unauthorised temporary commercial structures and hazardous stalls near pandals on Sunday. Officials cited concerns over LPG cylinders placed near structures made of highly inflammable materials, identifying them as a serious fire safety risk.
Fire services officials also stressed the need for adequate lighting and ventilation inside pandals. They said dark spots could reduce visibility and complicate crowd management, while insufficient airflow could contribute to overcrowded and suffocating conditions. Committees were asked to install sufficient fans and air-conditioning units where necessary.
Debashis Kumar, a senior functionary of Tridhara Sammilani, said the committee had received a no-objection certificate from the department before inaugurating its pandal. “No highly inflammable material was used and there was proper lighting from the entrance and along the pathway,” he told PTI.
Kumar said the committee had submitted a compliance report after informing the inspection team that crowd-control measures were in place. 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 activity did not obstruct entry and exit routes. A senior functionary of the committee said standard safety procedures were being implemented and that lighting had been improved to keep visitor movement clear from the Rasbehari Avenue and Triangular Park side.
No official of Chetla Agrani could be contacted for comment. The inspections followed the stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata on Saturday. The incident killed 19 people and injured several others, prompting the state government to step up inspections and review safety arrangements at major festival venues.
