Stories
Panic in Chorbagan Puja Pandal Leads to 19 Deaths, Police File Case
- •Nineteen people died in a tragic stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojonin Puja pandal on Saptami evening.
- •Panic and rush broke out following an announcement that the pandal could collapse amid sudden rain.
- •Kolkata Police has registered a suo motu case on charges of attempt to commit culpable homicide.
- •A special inspection team has been formed to check structural safety and handle crowd control directly at pandals.
- •Authorities have demanded a judicial inquiry led by a high court judge to investigate the disaster.
Key Questions Answered
On the evening of Saptami, a deadly stampede broke out at the Chorbagan Sarbojonin Puja pandal amid sudden rain when a rush occurred and an announcement was made warning that the pandal could collapse at any moment, intensifying panic and fear among visitors.
Kolkata Police registered multiple cases and initiated a suo motu case on charges of attempt to commit culpable homicide. Additionally, authorities arrested seven people and detained 14 others, including members of the organizing committee, crowd-control personnel, and private security staff.
A special inspection team led by the Principal Secretary of the Disaster Management Department, the Director General of Fire Services, and the Director General of STF was formed to inspect pandals across Kolkata for structural flaws and defects. The team members make decisions directly at the pandals regarding crowd control measures without needing to send recommendations to the Police Commissioner.
