CHOREBAGAN STAMPEDE PROBE DEEPENS AS POLICE MAKE MORE ARRESTS, KEY PUJA COMMITTEE FIGURES REMAIN UNTOUCHED

October 24, 2026

The investigation into the deadly stampede at Chorebagan in north Kolkata has widened, with police making additional arrests, even as questions persist over the absence of any publicly announced action against prominent members of the Durga Puja organising committee. The expanding investigation has brought renewed attention to accountability for the tragedy, which raised serious concerns about crowd management and public safety during the festive season.

The latest arrests indicate that investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and the possible responsibilities of those involved in organising and managing the event. However, the lack of any announced action against the committee’s senior figures has left an important question unanswered: whether the investigation will extend to those who held positions of authority in the organisation.

The case has placed the spotlight on the arrangements made to manage the large crowds that gathered during Durga Puja. In densely populated areas such as north Kolkata, popular celebrations can attract substantial numbers of visitors, making effective crowd regulation, safe access routes and emergency preparedness essential. Any failure in these arrangements can have grave consequences when large gatherings become difficult to control.

The police investigation is expected to establish the sequence of events that led to the stampede and determine whether any lapses or negligence contributed to the loss of life. Establishing individual responsibility will require investigators to examine the available evidence and assess the respective roles of those involved, rather than relying solely on the number of arrests made.

The continuing absence of publicly announced action against prominent Puja committee figures has also kept the issue of accountability at the centre of public attention. Arrests alone cannot answer wider questions about organisational oversight, the implementation of safety measures and the responsibilities of those entrusted with managing a major public gathering.

As the investigation proceeds, the crucial test will be whether the authorities can establish the facts transparently and ensure that responsibility is determined on the basis of evidence. The Chorebagan tragedy has underscored the need for rigorous safety planning at large public events, where the protection of visitors must take precedence over celebration and spectacle.

For the families affected by the tragedy and the wider public, the investigation must ultimately provide clarity about how the stampede occurred, whether preventable failures contributed to it and who, if anyone, should be held legally accountable. The widening police action has marked another stage in the probe, but questions surrounding the role of senior organisers remain unresolved in the absence of further official announcements.