Kolkata, The West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services Department has issued notices to three prominent Durga Puja committees in south Kolkata over alleged deficiencies in fire safety arrangements, following the Chorbagan pandal stampede that claimed 19 lives, officials said on Monday.
“No highly inflammable material was used and there was proper lighting from the entrance and along the pathway. He added that the movement and management of thousands of visitors were being coordinated with Kolkata Police, civil defence authorities and the civic body.
The notices were issued to Chetla Agrani, Ballygunge Cultural Association and Tridhara Sammilani after a high-level fire services team inspected major pandals and found shortcomings in safety arrangements, they said. We told the team that all fire safety measures concerning crowd control are being used and sent them a compliance report,” he said. The fire services authorities on Sunday directed the immediate removal of unauthorised temporary commercial structures and hazardous stalls set up near the pandals, citing serious fire safety concerns, particularly the presence of LPG cylinders near structures made of highly inflammable materials.
