Kolkata Pandal Stampede: Seven Arrested After 19 Killed; Organisers Booked

Kolkata Police have arrested seven people in connection with the deadly Durga Puja pandal stampede that claimed 19 lives. The arrested individuals include the Puja committee's secretary, vice president, committee office bearers, private security staff, crowd control personnel, and the bamboo structure contractor. A suo motu complaint was registered at Girish Park Police Station, following which 14 people were initially detained and seven subsequently arrested under non-bailable sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 105 for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, Section 110, and Section 3(5). A special investigation team formed by Kolkata Police is reviewing CCTV footage and questioning potential witnesses to determine the trigger of the incident. Emerging accounts point to either panic sparked by an announcement or a sudden rush into the pandal due to heavy downpour. While questions have been raised regarding police deployment and crowd safety measures at the venue, investigators and forensic teams continue to examine the site.