KOLKATA: Local residents questioned the police deployment after a stampede at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata killed at least 19 people and injured 25 others on Saturday evening that they alleged that most police personnel were stationed near the VIP entrance, leaving other areas inadequately monitored. Residents who were among the first to respond to the incident blamed poor crowd management, saying there were not enough policemen or volunteers at the site.The stampede occurred around 7.30pm when a sudden downpour prompted hundreds of revellers to rush into the pandal for shelter. The influx triggered a crowd surge that trapped people already inside. The administration later sealed the pandal, which was among three adjudged ‘Serar-sera’ by the state government this year.According to eyewitnesses, thousands of people were queuing in the narrow lane leading to the pandal when heavy rain began. Visitors already inside tried to move forward but found their way blocked by people ahead who were unable to leave through the exit.“The pressure of people was increasing from behind. But there was no way forward as people who had already completed viewing were refusing to step out as it was pouring outside. Suddenly, I felt a huge push and stumbled ahead. There was a flight of stairs near the exit and many hurtled down. Others trampled over those who had fallen. While some could exit, several had to be pulled out after locals dismantled a portion of the pandal,” an eyewitness said.Doctors at Medical College Kolkata, where most of the injured were admitted, said suffocation was the main cause of death. Several victims also sustained injuries in the crush.The Chorbagan puja has long posed a challenge for authorities because the pandal is situated in the narrow Radha Madhab Saha Lane. Its layout, which required visitors to descend a flight of stairs from an upper deck to the lower level near the exit, is also believed to have contributed to the tragedy.Sources said a change in the puja committee had resulted in people with previous experience in crowd management no longer being in charge.The incident also revived memories of the 2015 crowd scare at Deshapriya Park during Durga Puja in Kolkata. Thousands had gathered to see what was billed as the world’s largest Durga idol, bringing traffic across large parts of south Kolkata to a standstill. Several people fell ill or suffered injuries, but no deaths were reported.
