Several prominent Durga Puja organisers in Kolkata were asked by the administration to temporarily stop admitting visitors late on Saturday evening, following a stampede-like situation at another pandal that killed 19 people and injured 25.
The temporary restrictions affected several popular puja venues, including Tala Pratyay, Alipore Sarbojanin, Chetla Agrani and Ballygunge Sarbojanin, an official said. The show at Allen Park was also cancelled.
The measures were taken as authorities sought to manage large crowds at major celebrations across the city. Nearly 3,500 Durga Pujas are being held in Kolkata.
Major pujas restrict entry amid crowd concerns
A senior Kolkata Police officer said organisers at venues where authorities received reports of heavy crowds had been asked to stop allowing visitors inside.
“Wherever we are getting the information regarding major rush, we have asked the puja organisers to stop allowing people there. This is a temporary decision, and we may take a call tomorrow,” the officer said.
At Santosh Mitra Square, the puja committee decided to restrict the number of visitors entering the pandal. Committee president Sajal Ghosh said the organisers had reduced entry rather than allowing everyone to enter.
“We cannot ask every visitor to enter. And have scaled down the entry of visitors,” Ghosh said.
The show at Allen Park was also cancelled as part of the measures taken following the deadly incident.
Salt Lake pujas also asked to stop entry
Authorities extended the restrictions to Bidhannagar, the satellite township near Kolkata, where major Durga Puja celebrations, including those in Salt Lake, were also affected.
A police officer said organisers of major pujas in the area had been asked to stop admitting visitors to their pandals.
“We have taken a call and asked puja organisers to stop allowing people inside the pandals,” the officer said.
Salt Lake hosts several large-scale Durga Puja celebrations that attract substantial crowds during the festive season.
Review meeting scheduled for Sunday
The state administration and Kolkata Police officers are scheduled to hold a review meeting on Sunday to assess the situation and consider the next steps, a senior bureaucrat said.
The temporary restrictions followed the stampede-like incident at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata, which claimed 19 lives and left 25 people injured. Authorities are seeking to address crowd management concerns at major puja venues as celebrations continue across the city.