Kolkata Stampede Investigation Reveals Ignored Police Warnings

Kolkata, October 27 (Daily Kiran) : A tragic stampede occurred on October 17 at the Chorabagan Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata, claiming the lives of 19 individuals. In the wake of this incident, the Kolkata Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) has obtained crucial CCTV footage that reveals a disturbing scene. The footage, which spans 15 minutes from 7:15 PM to 7:30 PM, shows devotees both inside and outside the pandal disregarding repeated police requests to control the crowd.

According to police sources, officers were actively urging attendees to exit the pandal, while others outside were instructing those waiting not to enter until the crowd inside had dispersed. Unfortunately, the rainy weather contributed to the chaos, as devotees inside did not exit, and those outside did not heed the warnings to stay back.

The footage indicates that attempts to manage the crowd were evident, a fact corroborated by eyewitnesses interviewed by investigators. Alarmingly, it has also come to light that the private security personnel hired by the event organizers were not sourced from a professional agency. Instead, the committee employed local unemployed youth who lacked the necessary training to handle crowd control effectively.

The SIT is currently conducting interviews with the organizers to gather more information about the incident. In addition to the SIT, a six-member judicial inquiry panel established by the state government is also investigating the tragedy. Justice Anindita Roy Saraswati (retired), the panel’s chair, announced that they will begin collecting evidence on October 31 and are required to submit their findings within six months.

This investigation aims to ensure accountability and prevent such tragedies in the future.