KOLKATA POLICE ISSUE STRICT KALI PUJA SAFETY GUIDELINES, PANDALS BARRED FROM SERVING AS RAIN SHELTERS

November 3, 2026

KOLKATA, NOVEMBER 3: Kolkata Police have instructed Kali Puja organisers to prevent visitors from rushing into pandals for shelter during rainfall, as part of a series of crowd-management and safety measures introduced following the deadly Chorebagan stampede last month.

The directives were issued at a meeting with Kali Puja organisers at Dhana Dhanya Auditorium in Alipore on Monday. Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand attended the meeting, where officials emphasised the need to regulate entry and prevent sudden crowd surges during adverse weather conditions.

The instruction follows the October 17 stampede at Chorebagan, where a sudden movement of people towards a covered area after rainfall allegedly triggered a crowd surge. The incident claimed 19 lives and left at least 25 people injured.

Police have also ordered multiple inspections of major Kali Puja pandals ahead of the festival. Local police stations have been asked to examine crowd-management arrangements, entry and exit routes and other essential safety provisions. For particularly large pandals, inspections by the Public Works Department have been recommended to assess structural integrity and related safety concerns.

Organisers have additionally been instructed to ensure that exit gates are wider than entry points to minimise congestion and facilitate the smooth movement of visitors.

The meeting also reiterated restrictions on fireworks. Only green firecrackers will be permitted between 8 pm and 10 pm.

Kolkata Police are likely to begin inspecting pandals from Tuesday. Officials have indicated that the lessons learnt from the Chorebagan tragedy will remain central to the city's Kali Puja safety arrangements.