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Kolkata Police Ask Major Durga Puja Organizers to Temporarily Close Pandals After Deadly Stampede
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News18•18-10-2026, 00:45
Kolkata Police Ask Major Durga Puja Organizers to Temporarily Close Pandals After Deadly Stampede
- •Several major Durga Puja organizers in Kolkata were instructed by the administration to temporarily close their pandals following a stampede-like situation that resulted in 18 deaths and 25 injuries.
- •High-profile pandals including Tala Pratyay, Alipore Sarbojanin, Chetla Agrani, and Ballygunge Sarbojonin were asked to stop visitor entry.
- •The cultural show at Allen Park was canceled and Santosh Mitra Square restricted visitor access.
- •Authorities in the Bidhannagar satellite township also directed major pandals like Salt Lake to halt public entry.
- •The state administration and Kolkata Police plan to hold a review meeting to reassess the situation.
Key Questions Answered
Following a deadly stampede, Kolkata administration directed major crowd-pulling puja organisers including 'Tala Pratyay', 'Alipore Sarbojanin', 'Chetla Agrani', and 'Ballygunge Sarbojonin' to temporarily stop entry, while Allen Park's show was cancelled.
The stampede at the Chorebagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal occurred during Saptami evening prayers due to overwhelming crowds, heavy rain, and extreme humidity that created panic and panic-driven pressure at the exit gate.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the families of those who lost their lives, and Rs. 50,000 for each of the injured individuals.
