In the grim aftermath of the tragic stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin pandal that claimed nineteen lives, the West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services Department cracked down on crowd safety compliance across the metropolis. State fire inspectors served urgent statutory show-cause notices on three high-profile south Kolkata Durga Puja committees after discovering grave structural safety lapses and blocked emergency evacuation channels.
On-site inspections revealed that festival organizing committees had erected unauthorized commercial stalls obstructing egress pathways, failed to install functioning water mist extinguishers, and exceeded sanctioned occupancy limits inside fabric enclosures. Fire safety commissioners stipulated that the committees must widen entry corridors, clear electrical hazards, and station certified fire wardens around the clock or face immediate revocation of their public assembly permits.
Kolkata Police commissioners reinforced the administrative directives by deploying additional barricade channels, overhead surveillance drones, and rapid action personnel to regulate immense festive footfalls across pandal clusters. Civic authorities affirmed that unannounced inspections will continue across suburban pandals to avert further public tragedies during peak festive celebrations.
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Sources:
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/today-india-breaking-news-live-updates-19-october-2026-cjp-leaders-custody-latur-assault-video-kolkata-chorebagan-durga-puja-stampede-10927454/