Kolkata Closes Major Durga Puja Pandals After Stampede Kills 19
Authorities restrict entry at major puja venues following a deadly crowd surge that left 19 people dead and 25 injured, with a safety review scheduled for Sunday.
- Stampede-like incident kills 19, injures 25
- Major Kolkata pandals temporarily suspend visitor entry
- Salt Lake venues also face entry restrictions
- State administration and police to review safety measures
GG News Bureau
Kolkata, 18th Oct: Several major Durga Puja pandals across Kolkata and the neighbouring Bidhannagar township were ordered to temporarily stop admitting visitors on Saturday evening after a stampede-like situation at another pandal killed 19 people and injured 25 others.
The temporary restrictions affected several prominent puja venues, including Tala Pratyay, Alipore Sarbojanin, Chetla Agrani and Ballygunge Sarbojanin. Organisers were also told to cancel the show at Allen Park as authorities moved to manage crowds and prevent further incidents.
At Santosh Mitra Square, the puja committee restricted visitor entry. Committee president Sajal Ghosh said the organisers had scaled down the number of people being allowed inside rather than admitting everyone gathered at the venue.
A senior Kolkata Police officer said organisers were being asked to stop entry wherever authorities received reports of excessive crowding. The officer described the measure as temporary, adding that the situation would be reviewed before further decisions were taken.
Restrictions Extended to Salt Lake
In Bidhannagar, a major satellite township near Kolkata, police also directed prominent puja organisers, including those in Salt Lake, to stop allowing visitors into their pandals. The area hosts several large-scale Durga Puja celebrations that attract substantial crowds during the festival.
The closures came as authorities sought to ease congestion at popular venues following the fatal incident. Nearly 3,500 Durga Pujas are being held across Kolkata, placing significant demands on crowd management and public safety arrangements.
Administration to Review Safety Measures
A senior bureaucrat said the state administration and Kolkata Police officials would hold a review meeting on Sunday to assess the situation and consider further steps.
Officials said the restrictions were precautionary and temporary. Decisions on reopening the affected pandals were expected to depend on the crowd situation and the administration’s assessment.
The incident has brought crowd control and visitor safety into sharp focus during one of West Bengal’s biggest annual festivals, when thousands of devotees visit popular pandals across the city.
