CHORBAGAN STAMPEDE TRIGGERS BENGAL-WIDE SAFETY OVERHAUL AS 12 ARE DETAINED AND JUDICIAL PROBE BEGINS

October 18, 2026

KOLKATA, OCTOBER 18: Kolkata Police have detained 12 people, including organisers of the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja, in connection with the stampede in north Kolkata that killed 19 people and injured 25 others on Saturday evening. The tragedy has prompted the West Bengal government to launch a judicially headed investigation and order a comprehensive safety review of major Durga Puja pandals across the state.

The incident occurred on Maha Saptami amid heavy rainfall and a sudden surge of visitors. Police are examining CCTV footage collected from the site to establish the sequence of events and identify possible lapses in crowd management. Authorities have warned that anyone found responsible, including members of the puja committee, security personnel or police officers, will face action under the law.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who arrived in Kolkata for a two-day visit, is scheduled to visit injured victims at Kolkata Medical College and Hospital on Sunday. He had postponed his scheduled Durga Puja programmes following the tragedy.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by a sitting judge of the Calcutta High Court and comprising officials from the Special Task Force, Criminal Investigation Department and other departments, would investigate the incident.

Separately, the state government has constituted a high-level committee to inspect prominent puja pandals and recommend measures to prevent similar disasters. The review will focus on crowd management, exit routes, structural safety, adequate lighting and the removal of bottlenecks created by temporary barricades and rope enclosures.

The administration has also urged organisers to prioritise visitors’ safety over elaborate pandal structures and themes. Where complex designs obstruct movement or create risks, organisers may be advised to restrict rituals to the inner sanctum and use LED screens to allow visitors to view proceedings from outside.

With large crowds expected during the remaining days of Durga Puja, particularly Ashtami and Navami, authorities have directed officials to maintain heightened vigilance and strengthen crowd-control arrangements across the state.