Kolkata Police issue new Durga Puja pandal guidelines, cancel VIP passes after stampede that killed 19
A day after the stampede at a Durga Puja pandal, Kolkata Police cancelled VIP passes at all pandals and put public address systems under police control.
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Nineteen people died in a stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata. A day after the tragedy, on Sunday, Kolkata Police issued guidelines for Durga Puja organisers.
The most important point in the guidelines is that VIP passes issued at all pandals in Kolkata have been cancelled. The guidelines also say there must be no food or drink stalls of any kind at the entry gate or on the exit route of a pandal.
Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand has sent the guidelines to all police stations in the city. They direct police, security personnel and pandal officials to stay in constant communication with one another.
The commissioner has written in the guidelines that from now on the public address system will be controlled by the police. Each pandal will have at least one police constable posted, not only volunteers. Entry and exit routes of pandals must be kept open.
The guidelines also state that proper lighting is essential inside the pandal and on the routes leading in and out. All inspectors of Kolkata Police will be given manpack radio sets so that they can stay in constant touch with the puja committee.
On Sunday, police detained seven people, including organisers, in connection with the stampede at the Chorebagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata. Nineteen devotees died in the incident. A huge crowd had gathered at the pandal of the Chorebagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja Utsav Samiti for darshan of the goddess.
After some time a stampede broke out and a large number of devotees were injured. It is being said that part of the pandal collapsed, spreading fear among the people and leading to the stampede.
The injured were rushed to Kolkata Medical College and Hospital and two other hospitals. About 17 people have been declared dead at Kolkata Medical College and Hospital, while 25 are being treated there. Several of them are said to be in serious condition. Two more of the injured died on Sunday, taking the toll to 19.
