Kolkata Police arrested 334 people on Panchami for alleged traffic and public-safety violations as crowds grew at Durga Puja pandals across the city, with additional patrols, mobile units and river surveillance planned for the busier festival days ahead.
The arrests included 35 people for travelling three to a motorcycle, 92 for riding without helmets, 65 for dangerous or rash driving and 61 for allegedly driving while intoxicated, according to a report citing Kolkata Police sources. Another 81 arrests were made under other alleged violations.
Police have maintained a restriction that no more than two people may ride on a motorcycle. The enforcement action came as crowd movement increased from Chaturthi and rose further on Panchami. Kolkata Police said monitoring was being conducted from Lalbazar, the force’s headquarters, while personnel were deployed across the city’s roads and puja areas.
The scale of the operation reflects the dual pressure created by the festival: managing a sharp rise in pedestrian movement around pandals while keeping roads open and limiting risks from unsafe driving. The report said the city has 2,981 pujas this year, with the number of celebrations having increased by more than 400. It also reported that crowd levels are expected to rise further from Shashthi.
Police arrangements include coverage at smaller pandals in every city division. Between 10 and 15 such pandals in each division are reported to have police deployment, with teams of four to eight personnel working under a sergeant or assistant sub-inspector, depending on the location and requirement.
For mobile enforcement and emergency response, Kolkata Police is deploying two phases of 20 Heavy Radio Flying Squads, 10 Special Radio Flying Squads and 30 Police Control Room mobile vans, according to the report. These vehicles will coordinate with traffic police. In the event of a fire or another emergency, police vehicles will escort fire engines to affected locations, the report said.
The police have also planned special monitoring for women’s safety in crowded areas, including vigilance against harassment during the festival. Three Kolkata Police launches will patrol 15 ghats as part of the wider security arrangement. The next phase of enforcement and crowd management will continue through the remaining major Puja days, when police expect visitor numbers on city roads and around pandals to increase.
