Kolkata: The West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services on Monday issued notices to three leading south Kolkata Durga Puja committees after a high-level inspection of major pandals highlighted shortcomings in fire and crowd-safety arrangements in the aftermath of the Chor Bagan stampede that killed 19 people.
Notices and immediate directives
The teams served notices on Chetla Agrani, Ballygunge Cultural Association and Tridhara Sammilani, authorities said. Inspectors ordered the immediate removal of unauthorised temporary commercial structures and hazardous stalls around pandals, and flagged the presence of LPG cylinders near highly inflammable decorations as a serious risk.
- Removal of unauthorised stalls and temporary commercial structures.
- Elimination of LPG cylinders near inflammable materials.
- Improvement of lighting and ventilation to remove dark spots and aid crowd management.
- Installation of adequate fans and air-conditioning where necessary to prevent suffocating conditions.
Officials said the inspections also stressed the need for clear internal visibility and better mechanical ventilation so that organisers and emergency responders can manage crowds more effectively.
Responses from committee
Reacting to the notice, Debashis Kumar, a senior functionary of Tridhara Sammilani, said the committee had secured a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the fire department before the inauguration and submitted a compliance report.
“We got the NOC from the department before going ahead with the inauguration. No highly inflammable material was used, and there was proper lighting at the entrance and along the pathway. We told the team that all fire safety measures concerning crowd control were in place and submitted a compliance report,” said Kumar.
Ballygunge Cultural Association was specifically asked to improve lighting inside its pandal and to ensure that commercial activities did not obstruct emergency exits and pathways, fire officials added.
Context: crowd safety at Kolkata’s pujas
Durga Puja pandals in Kolkata draw thousands of visitors daily, with certain renowned committees attracting heavy footfall that can surge during evenings and weekends. The Chor Bagan incident has sharpened focus on fire and crowd-control protocols across the city’s festive sites.
Fire and emergency teams said their inspection targeted not only structural and electrical safety but also arrangements that influence crowd flow — lighting, ventilation and the placement of stalls that can create bottlenecks. Officials emphasised that inflammable decorative materials and the proximity of LPG cylinders significantly increase the risk of a conflagration that could turn deadly in cramped, poorly ventilated spaces.
What the notices mean for puja committees and visitors
Committees receiving notices are expected to comply promptly with specific remedial measures identified by the fire department. Non-compliance can lead to withdrawal of permission for large-scale events and further regulatory action, officials indicated. For visitors, authorities urged adherence to safety signage, avoiding crowding in narrow passages and heeding directions from pandal stewards and police personnel.
| Committee | Key directive |
|---|---|
| Chetla Agrani | Remove unauthorised stalls; address LPG hazards |
| Ballygunge Cultural Association | Improve internal lighting; prevent obstruction by commercial activities |
| Tridhara Sammilani | Submit and maintain compliance report; ensure crowd-control measures |
Fire and emergency officials also said they would continue spot inspections of major puja venues throughout the festival period, and urged organisers across the city to review their crowd-management plans, emergency exits and electrical installations.
The Chor Bagan tragedy that precipitated these inspections has prompted heightened scrutiny by civic and police authorities as well, with multiple agencies coordinating to prevent further loss of life during the peak days of celebration.
As Kolkata enters the busiest phase of Durga Puja, the fire department’s actions underline the fragile balance between large-scale public festivity and safety management in a city where pandals are both cultural landmarks and potential sites of risk if basic precautions lapse.
