NINETEEN LIVES LOST, OFFICIALS UNDER SCRUTINY: KOLKATA POLICE PREPARE TO QUESTION PERSONNEL OVER CHORBAGAN STAMPEDE

October 25, 2026

KOLKATA, October 25, 2026 — The investigation into the fatal stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal has widened, with Kolkata Police compiling a list of officers and personnel deployed at the venue on the evening of October 17 and preparing to summon them for questioning.

The tragedy, which claimed 19 lives, has brought the arrangements for crowd control, the management of entry and exit points and the response of security personnel under renewed scrutiny. Police headquarters at Lalbazar is identifying those assigned to duty at the pandal, particularly personnel stationed near its gates, to establish their responsibilities and determine how they reacted as the situation deteriorated.

According to police sources, the identified personnel are likely to be called to Lalbazar in the coming days as part of the continuing inquiry. Investigators are expected to examine whether the arrangements at the venue were adequate for the volume of visitors, how effectively the entry and exit routes were managed, and what actions were taken when the crowd became difficult to control.

The inquiry follows the deadly incident on October 17, when a sudden rush at the crowded Durga Puja venue in central Kolkata turned into a stampede. Nineteen people died, while others were injured in the disaster that cast a shadow over the city's major annual festival.

The West Bengal government has constituted a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by retired Calcutta High Court judge Justice Anindita Roy Saraswati, to investigate the incident and make appropriate recommendations. The panel's mandate places the tragedy under a broader examination intended to establish what happened and identify measures that could help prevent similar incidents.

The focus on police personnel is a significant part of the investigation because crowd safety depends on effective coordination between organisers, security staff and law-enforcement officials. The positioning of personnel at entrances and exits, the regulation of incoming visitors, the availability of safe evacuation routes and the ability to respond rapidly to an emergency can all influence how a crowd behaves under pressure.

At a crowded festival venue, even a brief breakdown in communication or the sudden movement of a large number of people can create dangerous conditions. Investigators will therefore need to establish the sequence of events and assess the decisions taken by those responsible for managing the crowd. The process of summoning personnel for questioning does not, by itself, establish individual wrongdoing; their respective roles will have to be assessed through the inquiry.

The Chorbagan tragedy has also raised wider questions about the planning and supervision of large public gatherings during Durga Puja, when pandals across Kolkata attract substantial numbers of visitors. Narrow approach roads, congested entrances and exits, sudden changes in weather and unclear instructions can complicate crowd movement, particularly when visitors attempt to leave simultaneously.

The inquiry into the October 17 incident is expected to examine the arrangements in place at Chorbagan and the response of those deployed there. Establishing the facts will be essential not only for determining responsibility but also for identifying shortcomings in crowd-management procedures.

The formation of the SIT signals that the state government has commissioned a separate investigation under an experienced judicial head. Its findings and recommendations may help clarify the circumstances that led to the loss of 19 lives and identify changes needed to improve safety at crowded religious and cultural events.

For the families of the victims, the immediate concern remains accountability and a clear explanation of how the tragedy occurred. For the authorities, the challenge is to establish the facts through a thorough inquiry and ensure that the lessons drawn from the disaster translate into more effective arrangements for public safety.

As Kolkata Police prepare to question personnel who were on duty that evening, the investigation enters another important stage. The central questions remain what happened at the pandal, whether existing safety arrangements were sufficient, and how the responsible authorities responded when the crowd surged. The answers will be crucial to understanding the tragedy and reducing the risk of another fatal stampede.