Overview
- A crowd crush at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal on October 17 left 19 people dead and dozens injured as visitors surged toward exits during heavy rain.
- Preliminary autopsies show traumatic asphyxia from chest compression and severe internal injuries as the leading causes of death for most victims.
- Investigators have registered an FIR, arrested seven pandal organisers, formed an SIT, and are reviewing CCTV footage from 13 of 30 cameras to reconstruct the sequence of events.
- Probes are focusing on venue design and crowd controls, including a restricted VIP corridor, narrow pathways, a paid Rs 399 digital-pass system and whether entry was allowed despite exit congestion.
- The Calcutta High Court has cleared a judicial inquiry headed by a retired judge, the state has deployed senior police teams for inspections, and the chief minister has handed Rs 25 lakh ex‑gratia cheques to bereaved families while police pursue those spreading false reports online.