An umbrella organisation of around 400 organising committees and the police have issued fresh guidelines on crowd management in Durga Puja pandals after 19 people were killed and 25 injured in a stampede at a pandal in Kolkata on Saturday.
It added that regular announcements should be made inside the pandals, warning hoppers against making videos or taking selfies. There will be no separate queues for VIPs. A committee comprising officers from the fire department and police was set up to take a fresh look at the security arrangements at prominent pujas in Kolkata and make on-the-spot recommendations on whether any rectifications in the existing arrangements were needed. The officers-in-charge and assistant police commissioners have been directed to visit the prominent puja pandals registering heavy footfall. “In case of rain, people should not be allowed to enter the pandal to take shelter; the interior of the pandal should be well-lit, no VIP vehicle should be allowed to go near the pandal, and police will monitor the announcements made by the organisers on the public address system. Police officers noted that pandal-hoppers move at a snail’s pace, take selfies and make videos of the interior decorations and idols, building up crowds. “There was an announcement and the volunteers at the pandal started blowing whistles. This apparently triggered the stampede.”
The Forum for Durgotsab, the umbrella organisation, has asked puja organisers to keep at least 10 raincoats in each pandal and walkie-talkies.
We will do whatever it takes,” he said. “They have been asked to ensure that all entrance and exit routes are kept free of any obstructions,” said a police officer. A second police officer said the organisers started announcing that the pandal could collapse and the people should leave.
West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari, who met top police officers and bureaucrats on Sunday, said that if needed, crowds will be restricted.
