The West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services Department has issued notices to three prominent south Kolkata Durga Puja committees over alleged fire-safety deficiencies, days after a stampede at a north Kolkata pandal killed 19 people and injured several others.
The notices were served on Chetla Agrani, Ballygunge Cultural Association and Tridhara Sammilani after a high-level fire services team inspected major pandals, officials said on October 19. The inspections formed part of intensified scrutiny of safety and crowd-management arrangements at venues attracting thousands of visitors.
Fire services officials directed organisers to address shortcomings related to lighting, ventilation and the movement of people inside and around the pandals. They stressed that adequate lighting was needed to prevent dark spots, improve visibility and support crowd management. Committees were also asked to install sufficient fans and air-conditioning units to improve ventilation and reduce the risk of overcrowded and suffocating conditions.
The department had on October 18 ordered the immediate removal of unauthorised temporary commercial structures and hazardous stalls near pandals. Officials specifically raised concerns about LPG cylinders placed close to structures made from highly inflammable materials. Such temporary arrangements can affect entry and exit routes as well as the movement of emergency personnel, the authorities said.
The inspections followed the stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata on October 17. The incident prompted the state government to increase scrutiny of crowd-control measures and fire-safety arrangements at major puja venues. Kolkata Police has also initiated a probe, while accounts from locals and eyewitnesses cited in the report pointed to crowd-control problems during the incident.
Tridhara Sammilani said it had obtained a no-objection certificate from the department before inaugurating its pandal. Debashis Kumar, a senior functionary of the committee, said the organisers had not used highly inflammable material and had provided lighting from the entrance along the pathway. He said the committee had submitted a compliance report and was coordinating the movement of visitors with Kolkata Police, civil defence authorities and the civic body.
The Ballygunge Cultural Association was asked to improve lighting inside its pandal and ensure that commercial activity did not obstruct entry and exit routes. A senior functionary of the committee said it was implementing standard safety procedures, had improved lighting and was facilitating the movement of visitors approaching from Rasbehari Avenue and Triangular Park.
No official from Chetla Agrani was available for comment, according to the report. The notices and follow-up inspections place responsibility on organisers and public authorities to keep visitor routes clear, maintain visibility and ensure that temporary structures do not create additional fire or crowd hazards. Further compliance with the directions will determine whether the identified deficiencies are addressed at the inspected venues.
