Kolkata Police are investigating whether crowd-management failures, confused entry and exit routes and heavy rain contributed to a stampede at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal that killed 19 people on Saturday evening, October 17. The incident occurred as visitors gathered at the venue during Maha Saptami and sought shelter from the rain.
Security was heightened outside Kolkata Medical College and Hospital, where several victims were taken after the crowd surge. According to hospital sources cited in the report, 11 injured people were shifted to SSKM Hospital. Family members said 13 women and a child were among those who died.
A senior police officer said investigators were examining crowd-control measures, arrangements at the pandal and the response of authorities during the emergency. The inquiry will include eyewitness accounts and other evidence collected from the site. A forensic team reached the pandal late at night and began gathering material relevant to the investigation.
Several eyewitnesses alleged that announcements about entry, exit and crowd movement were inadequate, leaving visitors confused during the rush. Local residents also claimed that police deployment was insufficient and that personnel were concentrated near the VIP entrance. Sanghamitra Bhowmik, a resident of the Chorbagan area, said she had not seen adequate police presence at the venue that year.
The police are also examining whether the organisers complied with safety requirements. The investigating officer said officials would check whether any rules had been flouted while erecting the pandal and would assess the responsibilities of the organisers and other personnel. Officers have sought the list of security guards and workers assigned to manage the crowd and are speaking to the organisers and policemen posted at the venue.
CCTV footage is being examined to establish what happened during the incident and to identify the respective roles of people involved in crowd management. Police are also investigating reports that private security guards blew whistles, triggering a rush, and that an announcement warned visitors to leave because the pandal structure could collapse.
Many people had moved into the pandal to shelter from the rain before the crowd surge. The incident has brought attention to the safety challenges posed by large, temporary festival structures and high visitor volumes during Kolkata’s Durga Puja season. The Chief Minister visited the hospital where the injured were being treated and urged organisers to follow official safety advice, including guidance on lighting and venue arrangements.
The Kolkata Police Commissioner also visited the hospital. The West Bengal government has established a toll-free helpline, 18003455678, for people seeking information about those affected. The police investigation will continue with the examination of CCTV footage, eyewitness testimony, forensic evidence and the deployment records of personnel at the pandal.
