Kolkata: A massive stir and a shadow of grief have descended across the entire state following the tragic stampede incident that occurred on the evening of Mahasaptami at Kolkata's traditional Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durgapuja marquee. The untimely demise of 19 ordinary visitors in such a tragic accident amidst festive joy has instantly exposed major lapses in security, administrative monitoring, and crowd management systems at the puja pandals. Immediately following this heart-wrenching incident, a high alert has been issued across the industrial belt of Asansol and Durgapur in accordance with directives from the state police headquarters. To ensure that such a tragic incident does not recur anywhere else during the remaining days of the festival, the local administration and police department are showing extreme vigilance and taking strict measures.
Since Sunday morning, top officials of the Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate and the Paschim Bardhaman district administration jointly took to the field to assess the situation. Led by Asansol Sub-Divisional Officer (Headquarters) Sadhan Debnath, a special delegation of police and administration visited several big-budget and crowded puja pandals in the city. The overall security arrangements of various crowded pandals, particularly the Rabindra Nagar Unnayan Samiti—one of the prime attractions on Asansol Burnpur Road—were inspected. Present in this high-level team of inspectors was also Asansol North MLA Krishnendu Mukherjee, who is coordinating with the administration throughout the matter.
According to administrative sources, during the inspection, crucial aspects such as the entry and exit routes of the pandals, emergency exit gates, adequate lighting arrangements, the presence of fire extinguishers, and the activeness of trained volunteers are being meticulously examined. Experienced officials are also reviewing the blueprint to ensure that the internal or external structure of the pandals is not damaged under any circumstances by the pressure of massive crowds, and that visitors can be swiftly evacuated to a safe place in the event of a sudden accident.
Expressing deep grief over the Kolkata incident, Asansol North MLA Krishnendu Mukherjee told the media, "The untimely loss of so many fresh lives in a festive and joyous environment is extremely painful and sorrowful. Such accidents are never desirable. Perhaps all dangers cannot be completely prevented, but major disasters can be largely avoided through prior caution and scientific security measures." He further stated that following the Kolkata incident, security has been multiplied at every puja pandal in Asansol. High-level administrative meetings have been going on in phases since Sunday morning. The police and administration are maintaining round-the-clock surveillance so that ordinary people and visitors can view the idols with complete peace of mind.
On the other hand, alongside Asansol, the administrative activity was equally noticeable in the important industrial city of Durgapur as well. Administrative officials conducted special inspections at Shankarpur Sarbojanin and Fuljhor Sarbojanin Durgapuja pandals, which are known as major crowd pullers and primary attractions in Durgapur. Managing the rush of thousands of people that pours into these pandals, especially as evening falls, is a big challenge. Therefore, Durgapur Sub-Divisional Officer Ankita Agarwal and high-ranking police officials of the New Township police station inspected firsthand whether adequate barricading arrangements and exit gate pathways are properly designated for crowd control.
Facing journalists, Durgapur Sub-Divisional Officer Ankita Agarwal said, "We are carefully examining the peripheral and internal security rings of every pandal. Special attention is being paid to ensure that visitors do not face suffocating conditions due to crowd pressure under any circumstances, and that routes for any emergency services, such as ambulances or fire tenders, always remain clear."
All puja committees in Asansol and Durgapur have been clearly informed by the administration that strict legal action will be taken if state government guidelines are flouted or if there is the slightest negligence in crowd control. Deploying an adequate number of volunteers and mandatory CCTV camera surveillance at every pandal have been made compulsory. Ensuring the lives and safety of the ordinary people during these festive days is now the foremost and all-encompassing objective of the district administration and the Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate.
