Kolkata, Kolkata Police are investigating whether lapses in crowd management, confusion over entry and exit routes and heavy rain contributed to the stampede at Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal that left 19 people dead on Saturday evening, a senior officer said.
Locals also claimed that police deployment at the pandal was inadequate, alleging that personnel were mainly stationed near the VIP entrance. “I have not seen adequate police presence this year. “There must be some lapses, but these should be probed. Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nanda also visited the hospital where the injured were undergoing treatment.
This resulted in the mismanagement,” Sanghamitra Bhowmik, a resident of the Chorbagan area, said. Whether lapses were on the part of the organisers or they had flouted the rules to erect the pandal will be checked,” the police officer told PTI. The police are examining the circumstances that led to the incident, crowd control measures, arrangements at the venue and the response of the authorities during the emergency, he said.
The blowing of whistles by private security guards at the pandal area led to a rush among the people there, the chief minister said, according to the family members of two of the deceased.
“Eyewitness accounts and other evidence will be examined as part of the investigation,” he added.
