KOLKATA PANDALS SCRAP VIP CORRIDORS AND OPEN UP EXITS AFTER DEADLY CHOREBAGAN STAMPEDE
October 20, 2026
KOLKATA, OCTOBER 20: In the aftermath of the fatal Chorebagan Durga Puja stampede, Kolkata’s major puja pandals have begun making changes to crowd-management arrangements, including dismantling reserved VIP entry channels, widening exits and improving lighting at entry and exit points.
Seven IPS officers temporarily brought back to Kolkata from their current postings to strengthen crowd management took to the streets on Monday to coordinate with police personnel and prominent Puja committees. Two other senior IPS officers, Anuj Sharma and Jawed Shamim, reviewed security arrangements at major pandals, including Tala Prattoy and Santosh Mitra Square.
Following meetings with police officers and organisers, additional lighting was installed at several pandals where entrances and exits lacked adequate illumination. Reserved VIP entry channels were removed at many locations to create more space for ordinary visitors, while exits were widened at some venues.
Anuj Sharma, director-general of police heading the Fire and Emergency Services department, instructed Puja committees to remove reserved VIP entrances immediately. Police officers also asked organisers to eliminate rope corridors during periods of heavy crowd movement, warning that such enclosures could restrict visitors’ movement and create dangerous bottlenecks.
Instead of using rope barriers to control crowds near the Durga idol, organisers were advised to restrict entry into the sanctum sanctorum during peak hours and sudden surges. The aim is to prevent excessive crowd accumulation in confined spaces while allowing people to move safely through the pandals.
The possibility of renewed rainfall also featured in discussions between senior police officers and organisers. Sharma and Jawed Shamim advised committees to temporarily close entry gates during heavy rain to prevent a sudden influx of visitors from overwhelming already crowded areas.
Meanwhile, the investigation into the Chorebagan stampede continued. Police have retrieved footage from 13 of the 30 CCTV cameras installed at the pandal and are examining the recordings to identify people present during the incident and obtain witness statements.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Kunal Agarwal said the footage showed visitors emerging through three exits, including the VIP exit. Investigators are also trying to identify the person who announced on Saturday evening that part of the pandal structure was about to collapse, as well as the individual who instructed him to make the announcement.
Eyewitnesses have alleged that the announcement triggered panic and prompted people to rush towards the exits. However, Agarwal said the footage examined so far had not established that any part of the pandal had collapsed. The investigation will examine whether rainfall alone caused the incident or whether other factors contributed to the tragedy.
Police also arrested Ainul Haque, a man from Cooch Behar, for allegedly circulating a fabricated video containing false information about the stampede.
The Chorebagan pandal remained closed to visitors on Monday. Police and forensic personnel returned to the site for the third time in three days, collecting structural remnants, including broken steel pieces and bamboo fragments, alongside CCTV footage. Investigators are also seeking statements from the organisers and examining the whereabouts of key Puja committee functionaries on Saturday evening as part of efforts to establish responsibility.
The changes at Kolkata’s pandals reflect an immediate effort to reduce crowd congestion and improve emergency movement following the tragedy. The investigation, however, remains focused on establishing precisely how the stampede unfolded and whether failures in crowd control, safety arrangements or communication contributed to the loss of lives.
