Bengal Deploys Nine IPS Officers After Stampede
Kolkata Police issues an 11-point advisory to tighten crowd control and improve safety at Durga Puja pandals after 19 deaths in Chorbagan.
- Chorbagan stampede claims 19 lives
- Nine experienced IPS officers assigned crowd duties
- Kolkata Police issues 11-point safety advisory
- Rain, entry and evacuation protocols tightened
GG News Bureau
Kolkata, 19th Oct: The West Bengal government has decided to deploy nine experienced IPS officers to manage the Durga Puja crowds in Kolkata after a stampede at a pandal in Chorbagan killed 19 people, prompting fresh concerns over festival safety.
The move comes amid questions over crowd management, police deployment and alleged negligence by puja organisers. Kolkata Police has also issued an 11-point advisory directing personnel to follow stricter safety measures at major pandals.
The officers assigned crowd-management duties are Sumanjit Ray, IG (Border); Mehmud Akhtar, IG (IB); Miraj Khalid, IG (Traffic); Rupesh Kumar, DIG (STF); Shubhankar Bhattacharya, DIG (Traffic); Tarun Haldar, DIG (CID); Soumya Ray, SS (EB); Priyabrata Ray, SP (Traffic); and Deepak Sarkar, SS (CID).
A senior official said the officers had experience managing large crowds during Durga Puja in Kolkata and had been brought in to help prevent a repeat of the Chorbagan tragedy.
Police Tighten Safety Rules at Pandals
Under the new advisory, pandal entry points must be closed during rainfall, and visitors already inside must be brought out safely. No new visitors will be allowed inside during such conditions.
Police personnel have been instructed to ensure adequate lighting at venues and remain at their assigned posts even during rain. Visitor movement must be regulated according to crowd conditions to avoid congestion and potential emergencies.
Vehicles carrying VIPs will not be permitted to approach pandals directly and must be parked at designated distances.
The advisory also directs police to monitor announcements made by puja organisers and ensure visitor routes are not changed abruptly, reducing the risk of confusion and sudden crowd surges.
Coordination With Volunteers
Every police officer and constable on duty must coordinate with a team of five to six volunteers from the respective puja committee.
Police have also been instructed to keep ropes, guardrails and small loudspeakers ready to regulate crowds and respond to emergencies.
The deployment of experienced officers and the additional precautions are intended to strengthen coordination between police and organisers and improve crowd safety at Kolkata’s major Durga Puja venues.
