Kolkata: The West Bengal government has deployed nine experienced Indian Police Service (IPS) officers for Durga Puja crowd management in Kolkata following a devastating stampede at a pandal in the city’s Chorbagan area that reportedly claimed 19 lives.
The decision was taken on Sunday, October 18, 2026, a day after the tragedy, amid growing concerns over crowd management, police deployment and allegations of negligence against puja organisers.
Alongside the deployment of senior officers, Kolkata Police has issued an 11-point advisory directing personnel to strengthen safety arrangements at major Durga Puja pandals, regulate visitor movement and remain prepared for emergencies.
The measures are intended to prevent another incident during the festive period, when large numbers of devotees and visitors gather at pandals across the city.
Nine IPS Officers Assigned Durga Puja Crowd Management Duties
The state government has assigned nine IPS officers with previous experience in managing large Durga Puja crowds in Kolkata.
According to a senior official, these officers have been brought in to strengthen on-ground supervision and help ensure that crowd-control measures are implemented effectively.
The officers assigned to crowd management duties are:
- Sumanjit Ray – Inspector General (Border)
- Mehmud Akhtar – Inspector General (Intelligence Branch)
- Miraj Khalid – Inspector General (Traffic)
- Rupesh Kumar – Deputy Inspector General (Special Task Force)
- Shubhankar Bhattacharya – Deputy Inspector General (Traffic)
- Tarun Haldar – Deputy Inspector General (Criminal Investigation Department)
- Soumya Ray – SS (Enforcement Branch)
- Priyabrata Ray – Superintendent of Police (Traffic)
- Deepak Sarkar – SS (Criminal Investigation Department)
A senior official said the officers have experience handling the large crowds that gather during Durga Puja in Kolkata and have been assigned responsibilities to improve crowd management and prevent a recurrence of the Chorbagan incident.
Kolkata Police Issues 11-Point Safety Advisory After Stampede
In response to the tragedy, Kolkata Police has issued an 11-point advisory for personnel deployed at major Durga Puja pandals.
The advisory focuses on managing crowd movement, maintaining safe entry and exit arrangements, coordinating with puja organisers and ensuring that police personnel remain at their assigned posts.
The instructions also cover emergency preparedness, lighting arrangements, VIP vehicle movement and the availability of essential crowd-control equipment.
Police officials said the directions are aimed at reducing risks at heavily visited pandals and ensuring a coordinated response when conditions become unsafe.
Pandal Entry to Be Closed During Rain, Visitors Evacuated Safely
One of the key instructions in the advisory concerns crowd movement during rainfall.
Police personnel have been directed to close entry points to pandals when it rains and ensure that people already inside are brought out safely.
No additional visitors will be permitted to enter pandals during such situations.
The advisory also directs police to ensure adequate lighting at pandal venues so that visitors can move safely and personnel can monitor crowd conditions.
Importantly, police personnel have been instructed not to leave their assigned posts even during rain.
These measures are intended to prevent sudden crowd movement and congestion that could create dangerous situations.
Visitor Movement to Be Regulated, VIP Vehicles Kept Away
Kolkata Police has instructed personnel to regulate the movement of visitors entering pandals according to the prevailing situation.
Officers on duty must assess crowd conditions and ensure that entry and movement remain controlled.
The advisory also places restrictions on vehicles carrying VIPs. Such vehicles will not be permitted to approach pandals directly and must instead be parked at designated distances.
The measure is intended to prevent disruption of visitor routes and reduce congestion around major pandal entrances.
Police to Coordinate with Puja Committees and Volunteers
The advisory emphasises close coordination between police personnel and Durga Puja organising committees.
Police have been instructed to monitor announcements made by organisers and ensure that routes used by visitors are not changed abruptly.
Sudden changes in crowd movement can create confusion, particularly at heavily crowded venues.
Every officer and constable deployed on duty must coordinate with a team of five to six volunteers from the respective puja committee.
The arrangement is intended to improve communication between police and organisers and ensure that crowd-management instructions are implemented consistently.
Ropes, Guardrails and Loudspeakers to Be Kept Ready
Kolkata Police has also directed personnel to keep essential crowd-control equipment available at pandal venues.
Adequate ropes and guardrails must be kept ready to regulate movement and maintain designated visitor routes.
Small loudspeakers must also be available so that police can communicate instructions quickly during emergencies or sudden changes in crowd conditions.
These arrangements are intended to support immediate intervention when overcrowding or other safety concerns arise.
Chorbagan Stampede Raises Questions Over Crowd Safety
The deployment of nine senior IPS officers and the issuance of the advisory follow the stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in Chorbagan, where 19 people were reported killed.
The incident has raised serious concerns over the management of large festive gatherings, the adequacy of police arrangements and the responsibilities of puja organisers.
Allegations of negligence have also surfaced following the tragedy, although the information provided does not establish findings of responsibility against any particular individual or organisation.
The state government’s latest measures place additional emphasis on experienced police supervision, controlled visitor movement and coordination with local organisers.
With Durga Puja celebrations continuing, the authorities are seeking to strengthen safety arrangements at major pandals and prevent further loss of life.
