Kolkata: The West Bengal government has cancelled the leave of doctors, healthcare workers and administrative officials following a stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata that killed 19 people and injured 25 others. The state government has also directed Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers who are on leave to return to duty immediately, according to a report by the Press Trust of India (PTI).
Following the tragedy, the state Health Department has placed the city on high alert and ordered medical teams to be stationed at five of Kolkata’s busiest Durga Puja pandals to provide immediate medical assistance in case of an emergency.
The department has warned that officials who fail to comply with the instructions could face disciplinary action, including suspension or dismissal.
Doctors to Be Deployed at Five Durga Puja Pandals
According to the Health Department’s order, teams of medical officers and doctors at the assistant professor level will be deployed at five major Durga Puja pandals in Kolkata.
The medical teams will remain on duty from 5 pm to 6 am between October 19 and October 21, covering the final days of Durga Puja celebrations.
The five pandals and their designated supporting hospitals are:
- Santosh Mitra Square: Nil Ratan Sircar (NRS) Medical College and Hospital
- Tala Prattoy: R G Kar Medical College and Hospital
- College Square: Medical College
- Ekdalia Evergreen: National Medical College
- Chetla Agrani: SSKM Hospital
The deployment is intended to ensure that medical assistance is available quickly at crowded festival venues, where large gatherings can increase the risk of emergencies.
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Hospitals Ordered to Keep Emergency Departments Fully Operational
The West Bengal Health Department has directed major hospitals in Kolkata to keep their emergency departments fully functional throughout the Durga Puja festival.
The order specifically requires the availability of orthopaedic surgeons, neurosurgeons and anaesthetists so that emergency surgeries can be performed without delay if a major accident or trauma-related incident occurs.
The arrangement is aimed at strengthening emergency medical preparedness and ensuring that hospitals can respond promptly to serious injuries during the festival.
North 24 Parganas Administration Asked to Remain Alert
The health administration in North 24 Parganas has also been instructed to maintain heightened vigilance due to the large crowds expected at key religious and festival locations.
Authorities have been asked to remain particularly alert around the Dakshineswar temple complex and during idol immersion activities in Taki.
The additional precautions are intended to help local administrations and healthcare facilities respond quickly to medical emergencies amid heavy public gatherings.
Kolkata Durga Puja Stampede Kills 19, Injures 25
The emergency measures follow a stampede at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata on Saturday. According to the report, 19 people were killed and 25 others injured after a surge in the crowd amid rainy conditions.
The incident prompted the state government to intensify public safety and emergency response arrangements during the remaining days of the festival.
The cancellation of leave for medical personnel and administrative officials, deployment of doctors at major pandals and instructions to hospitals to maintain fully operational emergency services form part of the government’s response to the tragedy.
With large crowds expected at pandals and religious sites, the measures are intended to improve medical readiness and ensure that assistance is available without delay if further emergencies arise.
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