A crowd crush at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata has killed 17 people and injured several others, prompting the Kolkata Police to detain 10 people and the West Bengal government to announce a special investigation under the supervision of a High Court judge.
The incident took place on Saptami evening at around 7.40 pm, according to a report by Sangbad Pratidin. Witnesses said a commotion began after an announcement was made over the public-address system. Several visitors reportedly fell while attempting to leave the pandal, after which the crush occurred.
Police have focused their investigation on the arrangements for controlling the crowd, security measures at the pandal and the routes provided for visitors to enter and exit the site. Investigators are also examining whether negligence contributed to the incident. The 10 people detained by Kolkata Police are being questioned as officials seek to establish how the crowd movement escalated and whether safety procedures were followed.
The chief minister visited Kolkata Medical College after receiving news of the incident and met the families of those who died and people who were injured. The chief minister later visited the pandal at night. The state government has taken responsibility for the medical treatment of the injured, according to the report.
The chief minister described the incident as tragic and said public safety must take priority over the design of a festival installation. The chief minister also advised organisers to construct pandals in accordance with guidance from the fire services and administration. The remarks came as investigators examined the physical layout of the venue, including crowd-control arrangements and the movement of visitors through the temporary structure.
The government has announced financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh for each bereaved family and one government job for a member of each affected family. The announcement is intended for the families of those who died in the incident. The state has also said it will bear the treatment costs of the injured.
The investigation process announced by the chief minister is expected to involve a special investigation team overseen by a serving High Court judge. According to the report, the chief minister said a letter would be sent to the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court seeking the appointment of a judge to supervise the inquiry. The report therefore records the announcement of the proposed judicial supervision, while the appointment itself is to follow the communication with the court.
The incident has placed temporary festival venues and their crowd-management systems under immediate scrutiny. Durga Puja pandals attract large numbers of visitors over a short period, making the design of entry and exit routes, public announcements, emergency access and on-site security critical to safe operation. The police have cordoned off the Chorbagan pandal while the investigation continues.
The chief minister also said that a special team would visit prominent Kolkata puja pandals on Sunday to review their arrangements. The next steps are expected to include the questioning of those detained, examination of the pandal’s crowd-control and access systems, and the formal process for appointing a High Court judge to oversee the special investigation.
