CHOREBAGAN STAMPEDE PROBE ENTERS CRUCIAL PHASE AS INVESTIGATORS RECONSTRUCT DEADLY NIGHT

October 26, 2026

The investigation into the deadly Chorebagan Durga Puja pandal stampede in north Kolkata has entered a critical phase, with a special investigation team (SIT) retracing the sequence of events at the pandal and the organising committee’s office. On Sunday, October 25, investigators took one of the nine people arrested in connection with the tragedy to both locations, seeking to reconstruct the circumstances that culminated in the deaths of 19 people on October 17.

The team spent several hours at the two sites during the late afternoon and evening, carrying out examinations and searches as part of its investigation. Although the police have not officially disclosed the identity of the arrested person who accompanied the investigators or the precise purpose of the exercise, sources indicated that the visit was intended to establish how the incident unfolded and identify possible lapses that contributed to the fatal crowd surge.

The reconstruction comes amid mounting scrutiny of the crowd-management arrangements, the narrow exit route, the conduct of the organisers and the announcement warning visitors that the pandal was collapsing. Investigators are attempting to establish the sequence of decisions and events rather than relying solely on eyewitness accounts and available CCTV footage.

RECONSTRUCTING THE EVENTS OF OCTOBER 17

The Chorebagan tragedy occurred during Durga Puja celebrations when panic spread among visitors inside the crowded pandal. An announcement warning that the structure was collapsing allegedly prompted people to rush towards the exit, creating a dangerous surge in an already congested area.

The resulting crush left 19 people dead and several others injured. The incident raised serious questions about whether adequate arrangements had been made to manage the large number of visitors, facilitate an orderly evacuation and prevent panic during an emergency.

The SIT’s visit to the pandal and the organisers’ office is intended to help investigators connect the available evidence with the accounts of those present on the night of the tragedy. Searches and seizures at the locations may also assist the team in examining relevant records and determining how decisions were made.

The investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the announcement, the movement of the crowd and the arrangements in place when the situation deteriorated.

NINE ARRESTED AS INVESTIGATION WIDENS

Nine people have been arrested so far in connection with the stampede, including members of the puja organising committee and two men accused of making announcements that allegedly triggered panic.

One of the arrested men is Sanjeev Raha, also known as Sentu, the treasurer of the Chorebagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja Committee. Another is Kushal Majumdar, also known as Kalia. Investigators have been examining their alleged roles in the announcement and the events that followed.

Police have been scrutinising CCTV footage and questioning people who were present at the pandal. The investigation is also examining whether the warning about the structure collapsing was justified at the time it was made and whether the announcement intensified an already dangerous situation.

The allegation that the announcement triggered the stampede remains a central line of inquiry. Investigators must establish the precise circumstances, the sequence of events and the responsibility, if any, of each individual involved.

QUESTIONS OVER CROWD MANAGEMENT AND SAFETY

The tragedy has brought the physical layout of the pandal and its evacuation arrangements under renewed scrutiny. Investigators are examining whether the available exits were adequate for the number of visitors, whether crowd movement was properly regulated and whether the arrangements allowed people to leave safely once panic began.

The role of the organisers and the conduct of personnel responsible for managing the crowd are also under examination. Investigators are seeking to determine how the situation developed and whether appropriate emergency procedures were followed.

The probe has further drawn attention to the division of responsibility among the puja committee, security personnel and public authorities involved in overseeing the event. Establishing the circumstances of the tragedy will require investigators to distinguish between immediate triggers and the underlying safety failures that may have contributed to the loss of life.

QUESTIONS OF ACCOUNTABILITY REMAIN

The police investigation is not the only inquiry into the incident. The West Bengal government has constituted a separate SIT headed by retired Calcutta High Court judge Justice Anindita Roy Saraswati. The panel has been tasked with examining what went wrong, fixing responsibility and recommending measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

The broader inquiry is expected to examine possible lapses by the organisers and any agency whose actions or omissions may have contributed to the disaster. Its findings could inform the state government’s subsequent decisions.

Questions have also been raised about political figures whose names appeared in the organising committee’s publicity material. As of the latest report, no such political leaders had been examined or arrested in connection with the case. Their presence in publicity material, however, does not by itself establish criminal responsibility.

The investigation will need to establish responsibility on the basis of evidence, including witness statements, CCTV footage, documents and forensic findings.

A SEARCH FOR ANSWERS AFTER THE TRAGEDY

The latest site visits mark another step in the effort to reconstruct the fatal sequence at Chorebagan. With nine arrests already made, investigators are examining not only the alleged role of the announcers but also the decisions and safety arrangements that preceded the stampede.

The central questions remain unresolved: what precisely triggered the panic, whether the warning reflected an actual structural danger, why the crowd was unable to disperse safely and whether preventable lapses turned an emergency into a mass-casualty disaster.

For the families of the 19 people who died, the investigation represents an essential search for answers and accountability. For the authorities, it presents a wider challenge: determining how a major public festival could descend into a deadly crush and identifying the safeguards needed to prevent a recurrence.

The SIT’s reconstruction of the events at the pandal and the organisers’ office may provide important evidence. Ultimately, however, accountability will depend on what the investigation establishes about individual actions, institutional responsibilities and the failures that contributed to the tragedy.