Raincoats, no selfies: New guidelines for puja pandals after Kolkata stampede

A puja pandal is a temporary, decorated venue created for Durga Puja. It usually houses the festival’s idols and becomes a place for worship, viewing decorations, and meeting other visitors. In Kolkata, some pandals attract very large crowds.

The Chor Bagan pandal was described as one of the most popular Durga Puja venues. Visitors moved through a narrow bylane to enter it, while others watched the interior decorations and idols. Police said some pandal-hoppers also took selfies and made videos, slowing movement.

This combination of worship, celebration, and sightseeing makes crowd planning important. Organisers and police now have to keep entrances and exits clear, manage queues, and monitor announcements. The fresh guidelines also discourage videos and selfies because stopping for them can add to crowd pressure, especially during rain or peak visiting periods.

The stampede happened on Saptami, the seventh day of Durga Puja, at Chor Bagan in cramped north Kolkata. The venue was highly popular, and the crowd was already swelling. Heavy rain then made nearby streets slippery and changed how people moved through the area.

People inside the pandal reportedly refused to leave because they wanted shelter from the rain. At the same time, more people tried to enter through both the entrance and exit. This created opposing movement in limited space. Organisers later announced that the pandal could collapse, and volunteers blew whistles.

The announcement and whistles apparently triggered the stampede, according to police. The incident shows how rain, shelter-seeking, narrow access routes, and sudden warnings can interact dangerously. Police were later told to remain at their posts in rain and manage crowds instead of abandoning positions.

The stampede at the Chor Bagan pandal caused 19 deaths and 25 injuries. These figures show the immediate human cost of unmanaged crowd pressure at a busy festival venue. The incident occurred during a popular evening visiting period on Saptami.

The article does not provide a numerical estimate for the crowd expected at Chor Bagan. It does describe the pandal as one of the most popular Durga Puja venues. A preliminary probe found heavy footfall, and police said the crowd was swelling while rain began.

This distinction matters: the venue’s scale is described in words, not a headcount. The combination of popularity, narrow access, rain, and people moving slowly produced dangerous congestion. In response, officials ordered inspections of prominent pandals and said crowds could be restricted if needed.

The new measures aim to help organisers respond quickly and prevent visitors from adding to congestion. The Forum for Durgotsab asked every pandal to keep at least 10 raincoats and walkie-talkies. It also asked organisers to make regular announcements inside the pandals.

Those announcements should warn visitors against making videos or taking selfies. The forum also wants at least one ambulance in each zone, so it can act as a first responder during an emergency. Police will monitor announcements made over public address systems. Interior spaces should be well-lit.

Authorities also ordered checks of prominent pandals and may restrict crowds when necessary. VIP vehicles will not be allowed near pandals, and separate VIP queues will not be provided. These steps combine equipment, communication, medical response, and visitor controls rather than relying on one safety measure.

Crowds remain safer when people can move steadily in one direction and leave quickly if needed. Blocked entrances or exits interrupt that flow. People then gather behind an obstruction, while others may press forward without seeing the problem. Pressure can rise rapidly in a narrow space.

At Chor Bagan, people inside reportedly stayed to escape the rain. More people tried to enter through both the entrance and exit, while visitors moved slowly and stopped for selfies or videos. The streets were slippery, and the pandal was already experiencing heavy footfall.

This created competing movements and reduced the available space. A sudden announcement that the pandal could collapse, followed by whistles, apparently triggered panic. The response now focuses on unobstructed routes, clear public announcements, good lighting, and officers staying at their posts so movement can be controlled during rain.

Safety responsibility was shared among the Forum for Durgotsab, individual puja organisers, police, fire officials, volunteers, and ambulance services. The forum issued guidance, while organisers had to provide equipment, make announcements, and keep routes clear. Police were responsible for monitoring crowds and public-address messages.

A committee of fire department and police officers was formed to inspect prominent pandals and recommend immediate corrections. Officers-in-charge and assistant police commissioners were told to visit venues with heavy footfall. Volunteers could support warnings and crowd movement, while ambulances in each zone would provide first response.

The system depends on coordination. Police must remain at their posts, even in rain, and organisers must not allow obstructions. Announcements should be clear and controlled. Fire and police inspections can identify problems before crowds build. Together, these roles provide prevention, communication, enforcement, and emergency care.

Large public events need controlled movement because many people may use the same narrow routes at once. Clear entrances and exits reduce opposing traffic. Unblocked evacuation paths give people somewhere to go when conditions change. Without these basics, small delays can become dangerous crowd pressure.

Communication systems help organisers give consistent instructions before confusion spreads. At Chor Bagan, an announcement about a possible collapse and volunteers’ whistles apparently triggered the stampede. The event also showed why first responders matter: police said victims were taken to hospital, and some people alleged they had to book app cabs.

The new plan combines prevention and response. Walkie-talkies can support coordination, public-address announcements can guide visitors, and ambulances can reach emergencies quickly. Police inspections, good lighting, crowd restrictions, and officers remaining at their posts are intended to reduce risk at busy pandals.