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Nineteen people have died in the Chorabagan stampede, triggering a major security and medical response. What steps are being taken to prevent further tragedies during Durga Puja?
The police reshuffle, stricter inspections, medical deployments and restrictions around Chorabagan reflect the heightened precautions being taken after the deadly incident.
Kolkata is stepping up security and emergency preparations during Durga Puja following the deadly stampede at Chorabagan Sarbojanin (Sarda Park), which has reportedly claimed 19 lives and left 25 people injured. The incident has prompted a major reshuffle in the Kolkata Police, the return of experienced IPS officers to the city and an emergency response from the state health department.
Nine experienced IPS officers who have previously handled Durga Puja arrangements in Kolkata are reportedly being brought back from their current assignments in different state departments to help manage crowds and maintain law and order. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Subhendu Adhikari has directed district administrations and police officials to intensify inspections at major puja venues, coordinate with organisers and ensure that crowd-control arrangements are adequate.
The health department has also cancelled leave for doctors and healthcare workers until Dashami and deployed medical teams from five Kolkata medical colleges near major puja pandals.
Nine Senior IPS Officers To Return To Kolkata After Stampede
The Chorabagan incident has triggered a major reshuffle in the Kolkata Police, with experienced officers being brought back to the city to strengthen crowd management during the remaining days of Durga Puja.
According to reports, the officers being recalled include IPS officers Muralidhar Sharma, Rupesh Kumar, Miraj Khalid, Deepak Sarkar, Tarun Halder, Priyabrata Roy, DP Singh and Soumya Roy. The supplied information also mentions Priyabrata Roy twice, so the final list of officers requires confirmation. These officers have reportedly handled Durga Puja arrangements in Kolkata in previous years. They had subsequently been assigned responsibilities in different state departments and are now being brought back following the stampede at Chorabagan on Saturday night.
While the initial account refers to seven IPS officers being brought back, subsequent details refer to nine experienced officers. The exact number and final list of officers should therefore be confirmed by the authorities.
The move comes as police face increased pressure to manage large crowds at popular puja pandals, where narrow entrances, sudden surges of visitors and adverse weather can complicate crowd movement.
Chief Minister Orders Strict Crowd-Control Measures At Puja Pandals
Following the Chorabagan tragedy, Chief Minister Subhendu Adhikari has directed district administrations and police officials to strengthen crowd-control arrangements at major Durga Puja venues.
District magistrates, superintendents of police and police commissioners have been instructed to conduct on-site inspections of crowded puja pandals and assess the arrangements in place.
Officials have also been asked to speak directly with puja organisers to review the situation and identify potential risks. The Chief Minister has directed the administration to coordinate with organisers to manage crowds and reassess security arrangements wherever necessary.
Special attention has been drawn to the role of public announcements during emergencies. Officials have been instructed to ensure that personnel responsible for making announcements at puja venues remain alert and respond promptly when a situation requires immediate intervention.
Police officers in charge of crowded pandals have been directed to monitor conditions closely, with maximum vigilance to be maintained over the next few days.
The instructions were reportedly issued during a meeting with district magistrates, superintendents of police and police commissioners following the Chorabagan incident.
Viral Video Captures Panic Before Chorabagan Tragedy
A video that has circulated on social media reportedly captures the moments leading up to the stampede at Chorabagan Sarbojanin, also known as Sarda Park, on Saptami. According to the account accompanying the video, a large number of visitors had gathered to see the idol while heavy rain continued outside. People can be seen entering the pandal through a narrow entrance, jostling as they attempt to move forward.
Amid the growing confusion, an announcement is heard over the microphone urging people to use the exit and stay away from the pavilion.
The voice is heard saying: “Open the exit gate. No one will come towards the pavilion. The pavilion has fallen. It has broken, get out.”
The announcement appears to add to the confusion as people struggle to understand what is happening and the jostling intensifies.
The video has brought renewed attention to the challenges of managing large crowds at puja pandals, particularly when heavy rainfall, restricted entry and exit routes and sudden emergencies coincide.
Health Department Cancels Doctors’ Leave Till Dashami
The state health department has also moved into emergency-preparedness mode following the Chorabagan tragedy.
Leave for doctors and healthcare workers has reportedly been cancelled until Dashami to ensure adequate medical staff are available during the remaining days of the festival.
Medical teams from five major Kolkata medical colleges are being deployed near five prominent puja pandals. Doctors have been assigned duty from 5 pm until 6 am the following day, covering the hours when large crowds may gather at the venues.
The deployment is intended to ensure that medical assistance is available close to crowded locations if visitors suffer injuries or require emergency treatment.
Which Medical Colleges Will Be Deployed At Which Puja Pandals?
According to the health department’s reported deployment plan, the teams will be stationed as follows:
- NRS Medical College: Santosh Mitra Square in Sealdah
- RG Kar Medical College: Tala Pratya
- Kolkata Medical College: College Square
- National Medical College: Ekdalia Evergreen
- SSKM: Chetla Agrani
The teams are expected to remain on duty from 5 pm to 6 am the following day.
Hospitals Told To Ensure Specialists, Ambulances, Blood And Oxygen
The health department has also instructed hospitals to ensure that essential medical services remain available during the festival.
On Saturday, the Health Secretary reportedly held a video conference with chief health officers, principals of medical colleges and medical superintendents-cum-vice-principals (MSVPs) from districts across the state. During the meeting, officials were instructed to ensure the availability of specialist doctors, particularly orthopaedic specialists, neurosurgeons and anaesthetists, who may be needed to treat serious injuries in an emergency.
Hospitals have also been directed to maintain adequate supplies of ambulances, blood and oxygen.
In addition, IAS officers from the health department who were on leave have been instructed to return to duty to support the emergency response and preparedness arrangements. The measures are aimed at ensuring that hospitals can respond promptly if another crowd-related incident occurs during the festival.
Extra Vigilance At Dakshineswar Temple And Taki
The health department has also directed the Chief Health Officer of North 24 Parganas district to make additional preparations in view of the expected crowds at Dakshineswar temple and during immersion activities in Taki.
The instruction comes as the administration seeks to strengthen preparedness at locations that may witness large gatherings during the remaining festival days and subsequent immersion events.
Ensuring adequate medical personnel, emergency transport and essential supplies at these locations is part of the wider effort to prevent delays in responding to emergencies.
Section 163 Imposed In Parts Of Bowbazar After Stampede
The administration has also imposed restrictions in areas adjoining Chorabagan following the tragedy.
According to the supplied information, gatherings have been prohibited in certain areas near Chorabagan until Navami. Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which provides for orders to prevent immediate danger or public disturbance, has reportedly been imposed in parts of the Bowbazar police station area from Sunday to Tuesday.
The restrictions are intended to help prevent further crowding and maintain public order in the vicinity of the affected location.
The reported stampede occurred on Saturday evening, during Saptami, when a large crowd gathered at Chorabagan Sarbojanin to see the idol. Heavy rain was falling at the time, and the gathering inside the pandal reportedly turned chaotic. The reported toll stands at 19 dead and 25 injured.
What Happens Next?
The police reshuffle, stricter inspections, medical deployments and restrictions around Chorabagan reflect the heightened precautions being taken after the deadly incident.
The immediate focus is on managing crowds at major puja venues, ensuring that emergency announcements can be made promptly and keeping medical assistance available throughout the night. Coordination between police, district administrations, health officials and puja organisers will be crucial during the remaining days of the festival.
The reported video of the moments before the stampede has also intensified scrutiny of crowd movement and emergency response arrangements at the venue. The findings of any official inquiry will be important in establishing how the tragedy unfolded and whether lapses in crowd management contributed to it.
With large gatherings continuing during Durga Puja, authorities have been directed to maintain heightened vigilance to reduce the risk of another crowd-related disaster.
Quick Answers
Ask News18The tragedy occurred on Saptami evening when a massive crowd gathered to view the idol amidst heavy rainfall, causing chaos at a narrow entrance. A panic-inducing announcement that the pavilion was breaking further intensified the jostling, leading to a deadly crush that claimed 19 lives and injured 25 people.
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A sociologist by training and a storyteller by profession, I spend my days shaping news, and when I’m not chasing deadlines, I’m exploring new places, discovering different cultures and tasting unique…Read More
October 19, 2026, 15:00 IST
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