19 killed in stampede at Kolkata Durga Puja pandal

A tragic incident has occurred during the Durga Puja festival in the Chorbagan area of Kolkata, in which 19 people have lost their lives. The incident took place on October 17 at approximately 7:30 PM. According to a report by Dainik Bhaskar, the major tragedy was caused by a stampede triggered by a surge in the crowd during rain and a false rumor that the pandal was collapsing.

According to Kolkata Police, the main reason for the tragedy was an attempt to escape the rain. As it started raining in the pandal, women gathered near the exit gate to protect their clothes and makeup. During this time, as the crowd suddenly increased, pushing and shoving started among the people and they began falling on each other, which led to a stampede. CCTV footage also showed that hundreds of people entered the pandal at once during the rain.

Preliminary police investigation revealed that the first person fell about 11 feet away from the pandal gate. In connection with this incident, the police are currently investigating various aspects. The police are also investigating whether there was an adequate number of female volunteers and police personnel deployed at the pandal. Additionally, an investigation is underway to determine if there was any delay in informing the administration about the rising crowd.

In this matter, the police have arrested 9 people so far. Among those arrested, two individuals are accused of spreading panic among the people by making a false announcement that a part of the pandal was collapsing. According to police officials, no evidence has been found regarding the claim of the pandal collapsing, but this false announcement caused panic among the people and triggered the stampede. The police are now looking for the person who spread this rumor. Knowing who made this announcement and why is a very important question at the moment.

Police may seek court permission to take voice samples of the two arrested individuals. Along with this, the pandal artist has also been questioned by the police. Sushanta Shibani Pal had prepared this pandal on the theme of 'Orb' or 'Beyond Sound'. A large number of people were reaching there to see the artistic decoration of this pandal.

In the investigation regarding security arrangements, the functioning of the private agency hired by the pandal organizers is also being examined. The agency staff had portable radios called 'manpacks', which are used for security and emergency services. These radios are equipment that can be carried on the back like a bag. The police are also investigating where the agency staff were at the time of the incident, whether they were aware of the increasing crowd, and if they were aware, what steps they took.

According to a report by The Times of India, excessive crowd density, panic, and a false announcement regarding structural failure were the main reasons for this tragedy. Experts have emphasized the importance of effective crowd management to prevent such tragedies in the future. Investigators are also looking into various factors such as narrow exit routes and inadequate security measures.

This entire incident has raised serious questions regarding security and crowd control. The police are currently conducting a meticulous investigation into all aspects so that the exact reasons behind this tragedy can be known and strict action can be taken against those responsible.