Kolkata Stampede: 7 Arrested After 19 Deaths
Seven people, including Durga Puja organisers and security personnel, have been arrested following a stampede at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata that killed 19 people and injured around 25 others on Saturday, October 17. Police have registered a criminal case and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Kolkata Durga Puja Stampede: Seven Arrested
The stampede occurred around 7:40 pm near the crowded pandal under Girish Park police station jurisdiction. Heavy rainfall and a large gathering of devotees reportedly contributed to congestion around the venue.
Those arrested include puja committee secretary Raj Kumar Sewda, vice-president Santanu Dubey and bamboo structure contractor Biplab Mukherjee. Crowd management personnel Koushik Saha and Pintu Dey, along with private security supervisors Suman Chakraborty and Rajesh Pal, were also taken into custody.
Police have registered a suo motu case involving allegations of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Investigators are examining potential safety violations and crowd management failures.
Loudspeaker Announcement Under Investigation
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said preliminary information suggested that an announcement over the pandal’s loudspeaker may have triggered a sudden rush among visitors.
He also cited accounts from victims’ relatives alleging that whistles blown by private security guards contributed to the confusion. The precise sequence of events remains under investigation.
Forensic specialists, police investigators and fire department personnel have been deployed to examine the incident.
Kolkata Durga Puja Pandals Face Safety Restrictions
Following the tragedy, authorities directed several prominent Kolkata Durga Puja organisers to temporarily suspend visitor entry.
The administration has emphasised adequate lighting, properly managed entrances and exits, and effective crowd control arrangements.
Official programmes, including scheduled engagements involving Union Home Minister Amit Shah, were postponed as authorities continued their investigation and medical assistance to those injured.
