No selfies, raincoats mandatory at Kolkata Puja pandals after stampede kills 19

Days after a stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata claimed 19 lives and left 25 people injured, police and an umbrella organisation representing around 400 puja committees have issued fresh safety guidelines, including restrictions on selfies, mandatory raincoats for volunteers and tighter crowd management.

The Forum for Durgotsab has asked organisers to keep at least 10 raincoats and walkie-talkies at every pandal, while regular announcements must discourage visitors from taking selfies or recording videos that could obstruct movement.

The measures follow Saturday's tragedy at the Chor Bagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal, where heavy rainfall and a sudden surge in visitors led to overcrowding along a narrow approach road on Saptami evening.

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝘂𝗷𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗹𝘀

The Forum for Durgotsab has instructed its member committees to strengthen emergency preparedness and ensure uninterrupted communication among volunteers managing crowds.

Apart from keeping raincoats and walkie-talkies, organisers have been asked to ensure that at least one ambulance is stationed in each zone to provide immediate assistance during emergencies.

Saswata Basu, a member of the forum, said the guidelines were finalised following discussions with prominent puja organisers on Sunday.

The forum has also emphasised regular public announcements to prevent visitors from stopping inside pandals to take photographs or videos, which can slow movement and cause dangerous crowd build-ups.

𝗡𝗼 𝗩𝗜𝗣 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘂𝗲𝘀, 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘀

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who reviewed the situation with senior police officers and bureaucrats on Sunday, said authorities would restrict crowds wherever necessary to prevent another tragedy.

He also announced that separate queues for VIP visitors would not be permitted.

A joint committee comprising police and fire department officials has been constituted to reassess security arrangements at prominent Durga Puja pandals.

The committee will inspect existing safety measures and recommend immediate changes wherever shortcomings are identified.

Officers-in-charge and assistant police commissioners have been directed to visit pandals attracting large crowds and ensure that entrances and exits remain free of obstructions.

𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻

Under the revised instructions, visitors should not be allowed to enter pandals merely to seek shelter during rainfall, as this could lead to overcrowding.

Authorities have also directed organisers to maintain adequate lighting inside pandals and prevent VIP vehicles from approaching crowded venues.

Police personnel have been instructed to remain at their designated duty posts even during heavy rain and continue managing visitor movement.

Officers will monitor announcements made through public address systems to ensure that instructions do not create confusion or panic among visitors.

The police advisory also calls for closer coordination between personnel and volunteers, along with adequate arrangements for ropes, guardrails and loudspeakers to regulate movement.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗱𝗲

According to preliminary findings, the Chor Bagan pandal was witnessing heavy footfall when rainfall intensified on Saturday evening.

Visitors already inside reportedly refused to leave because of the rain, while others attempted to enter through both the designated entrance and exit.

The narrow approach road had also become slippery, further complicating crowd movement.

A police officer said organisers subsequently announced that the pandal could collapse and asked visitors to leave. Volunteers also began blowing whistles, which may have contributed to panic among those gathered.

Allegations have also emerged that some police personnel left their duty posts during the rain. Officials have since directed personnel not to abandon their assigned locations under such circumstances.

There were also complaints that ambulances were not readily available, forcing some people to arrange app-based cabs to transport injured visitors to hospitals.

𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱

The West Bengal government has deployed nine senior IPS officers with experience in managing Durga Puja crowds to strengthen security arrangements during the remaining festival days.

Kolkata Police have also issued an 11-point advisory addressing crowd movement, emergency preparedness, lighting and coordination with puja committees.

Authorities are expected to continue inspections of major pandals and make changes to entry and exit arrangements wherever necessary.

The fresh measures are intended to prevent a repeat of the Chor Bagan tragedy as large numbers of visitors continue to gather at prominent Durga Puja venues across the city.