Overview
- A stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata killed 19 people, prompting immediate government action.
- The state administration issued a standard operating procedure that prioritizes fire prevention, crowd management and adequate lighting for community pujas.
- The SOP requires wider entry and exit points, more volunteers matched to expected crowds, on‑site first aid and ambulances, and mandatory fire extinguishers at pandals.
- Nadia district officials have added operational rules including joint venue inspections to set safe capacities, CCTV, fixed immersion timings, staggered procession schedules and quick‑response teams.
- Officials said enforcement and committee compliance are now the urgent tasks and that better announcements, unobstructed access for emergency vehicles and clearer procession routes aim to reduce panic and crowd surges.