A preliminary investigation by the Kolkata Police has identified three factors behind the deadly stampede at a community Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata that claimed 19 lives: sudden rainfall, a misleading announcement and serious lapses in crowd management within the pandal premises.
A senior Kolkata Police official said the unexpected rain played a significant role in the tragedy. “Sudden rain certainly played a role in the tragedy. People waiting outside tried to rush into the pandal to escape the rain, while those already inside were reluctant to leave for the same reason. However, this cannot excuse the lapses on the part of the puja organisers, which also contributed to the chaos,” the official said.
As the rain-related chaos began to build, an announcement urging people to evacuate the pandal immediately over fears that the structure could collapse triggered further panic. According to city police officers, the warning sent those present rushing toward the exits, with some surging toward the entry gate, ultimately leading to the stampede and the tragedy of such magnitude.
The investigating team also found that crowd-control measures on the pandal premises on Saturday evening were grossly inadequate, a conclusion drawn from circumstantial evidence and statements from local residents and eyewitnesses. The number of police personnel and private security guards deployed at the scene was far less than required, further complicating the situation, officers said.
Police have already arrested seven people in connection with the incident, including a top official of the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja committee and the persons in charge of crowd management and security within the pandal premises. The accused have been charged under sections relating to culpable homicide under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who arrived in Kolkata on Saturday night, cancelled all his Puja-related schedules for Sunday and instead visited a private hospital in the city where 14 injured people were admitted. He enquired about their health conditions but did not speak to the media about the incident.
According to reports, barring one individual, the injured admitted to the private hospital are more or less stable and out of danger.
