The Kolkata stampede that killed 19 people has prompted the Bengal government to bring back nine IPS officers with experience in managing Durga Puja crowds, while Kolkata Police has issued an 11-point advisory for personnel deployed at major pandals. The measures were announced a day after the fatal incident, amid concerns over crowd control, police deployment and alleged negligence by puja organisers.
A senior official said the nine officers had been assigned crowd-management duties during the festival because of their experience in handling large gatherings in Kolkata. The officers are Sumanjit Ray, IG (Border); Mehmud Akhtar, IG (IB); Miraj Khalid, IG (Traffic); Rupesh Kumar, DIG (STF); Shubhankar Bhattacharya, DIG (Traffic); Tarun Haldar, DIG (CID); Soumya Ray, SS (EB); Priyabrata Ray, SP (Traffic); and Deepak Sarkar, SS (CID).
“These officers have experience in handling huge crowds during Durga Puja in Kolkata. They have been brought back to help ensure proper crowd management and prevent a repeat of the Chorbagan incident,” the senior official said.
The police advisory sets out operating instructions for situations that can quickly change visitor movement and safety conditions. According to an officer quoted in the report, entry points to pandals must be closed when it rains, and people already inside must be brought out safely. No visitors will be allowed into pandals during such conditions. Police have also been told to ensure adequate lighting at the venues.
The instructions require personnel to remain at their assigned posts even during rain and to regulate the movement of visitors according to the situation. Vehicles carrying VIPs will not be allowed up to pandals and must be parked at a designated distance. Police have also been directed to monitor announcements made by puja organisers and ensure that visitor routes are not changed abruptly.
The advisory places responsibility on police personnel to work closely with puja committees at each venue. Every officer and constable must coordinate with a team of five to six volunteers from the relevant committee. Police have additionally been instructed to keep ropes, guardrails and small loudspeakers ready for crowd management and emergency response.
The measures indicate a shift towards more closely managed entry, exit and communication systems at major festival venues after the Chorbagan tragedy. The immediate operational focus is on preventing sudden route changes, limiting access during rain, keeping emergency equipment available and ensuring that police posts remain staffed throughout the deployment. The nine officers will handle crowd-management duties during the ongoing Durga Puja period, while the 11-point advisory will guide police personnel stationed at the pandals.
