Visuals captured moments before a deadly Durga Puja stampede in North Kolkata have come under scrutiny as police and a special task force investigate the incident that claimed 19 lives. The tragedy unfolded between 7:15 PM and 7:30 PM at a puja pandal located in the narrow lanes of Chorbagan.
Preliminary details indicate that sudden heavy rainfall prompted hundreds of devotees to rush inside the pandal for shelter, while visitors already inside were reluctant to exit into the rain. The resulting congestion, compounded by narrow entry and exit points, darkness, and alleged lapses in crowd control by local home guards, triggered severe panic and chaos. Investigators are currently examining photographs, videos, and social media reels recorded by visitors inside the pandal to reconstruct the exact sequence of events, verify crowd management protocols, and determine accountability for the fatal disaster.
The tragic pandal collapse and subsequent stampede in Kolkata's Chorbagan has resulted in 19 deaths, sparking a massive political confrontation. The Trinamool Congress has targeted the administration over crowd management, security lapses, and an inadequate emergency response, alleging a severe shortage of ambulances and police personnel on site. Leaders questioned the role of key patrons associated with the pandal, demanding accountability and arrests, while others demanded the resignation or dismissal of Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand.
Meanwhile, a crucial high-level meeting is underway at the West Bengal Police Headquarters, Bhawani Bhavan, where the Chief Minister is reviewing the ongoing investigation into the recent stampede incident. Senior police officers, the Director General of Police, and Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Aggarwal are present. Taking lessons from the incident in Kolkata, the administration is focusing on safety and security measures for pandal hoppers across districts including Malda, Howrah, and Siliguri, with discussions focused on chalking out strategies and precautionary steps to manage huge congregations throughout the celebrations.