Kolkata crowd control measures have been tightened for Kali Puja, Jagaddhatri Puja and Chhath Puja after the Chorbagan stampede, with the administration directing organisers to improve lighting, widen entry and exit routes, limit crowding and strengthen emergency arrangements at pandals and river ghats.
According to a report by Sangbad Pratidin – Kolkata, the directives have been issued as the city moves from the recently concluded Durga Puja period into a series of festivals expected to draw large crowds. The instructions cover visitor movement, police deployment, fire response, first aid, cleanliness and safety arrangements at both puja venues and immersion or worship sites.
Puja committees have been told to ensure that pandals have adequate lighting and that entry and exit passages are sufficiently wide. Organisers must also prevent visitors from accumulating beyond the safe capacity of the structure or surrounding area. The administration has directed committees to deploy the required number of volunteers to help regulate movement and identify potential congestion before it becomes difficult to control.
Police deployment is expected to be based on the likely crowd size at individual pandals. The report said police and administrative officials would inspect whether the required arrangements were in place. First-aid facilities must also be made available, adding a basic medical response layer to the crowd-management plan.
Fire safety forms another part of the instructions. The administration has said that fire services should be able to reach an incident within 10 to 15 minutes. The directive places the responsibility for access and preparedness on the organisers and authorities, although the report does not specify whether the response target applies uniformly across all venues or how it will be monitored.
The instructions extend beyond pandals to river ghats that are expected to receive visitors during Chhath Puja and other festival-related activities. Boats must carry life jackets, while adequate lighting is required at the ghats. CCTV cameras and sufficient illumination have also been directed for Chhath-related arrangements. Separate changing rooms are to be provided for women.
The emphasis on lighting, access width and crowd limits reflects the operational challenges of managing temporary public spaces during festival periods. Pandals and ghats can attract large numbers of people within a short time, while narrow routes, poor visibility and overlapping pedestrian movement can complicate evacuation and emergency access. The latest directives seek to address those risks through venue-level preparation, volunteer support and stronger coordination between organisers, police, fire services and the civil administration.
The report does not provide details of the Chorbagan incident, including the number of people affected, the venue’s precise location or the findings of any inquiry. It also does not specify the dates by which committees must complete the required arrangements. The immediate next step, according to the report, is for police and administrative teams to check compliance at pandals and ghats before the upcoming festival gatherings.
