West Bengal chief minister proposes ending VIP entry lanes at Durga Puja sites after deadly stampede
The Bengal chief minister announced plans to remove separate VIP gates at Durga Puja pandals and tighten crowd control following a stampede that killed 19 people.
Following a fatal stampede at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal that claimed 19 lives and injured 25, the Bengal chief minister announced a crackdown on exclusive VIP access at festival sites. A task force will review safety arrangements at every pandal, regulate visitor numbers, and ban separate VIP queues. Police stations have been ordered to visit local pandals and enforce new crowd-management guidelines, while the chief minister will monitor citywide traffic from the Kolkata Police headquarters.
He pledged to meet the victims' families on Oct 20-21 and provide Rs 25 lakh compensation to each bereaved household. A Special Investigation Team, potentially headed by a sitting Calcutta High Court judge, will examine whether police or municipal officials failed in their duties. The chief minister also urged devotees to observe rituals with compassion and respect.
Why it matters
It seeks to prevent future tragedies at one of India's biggest religious festivals by tightening crowd safety and ending privileged entry.
How this story developed
- Oct 17 Rain-triggered stampede at Kolkata Durga Puja kills 17 and injures 25
- Oct 18 Death toll updated to 19 and a Special Task Force investigation was launched.
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