Odisha Police has directed Durga Puja committees in Bhubaneswar and Kataka to implement queue-based darshan and stricter crowd-control measures after a stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata killed 19 people and injured 25 others.
Odisha Director General of Police Vinaytosh Mishra said narrow passages combined with large crowds could create conditions for a stampede-like situation. He said organisers had been asked to make arrangements for ‘dhadi darshan’, or a queue-based system, at their pandals.
“When a large crowd passes through a narrow passage, there is always a possibility of a stampede-like situation. So, we have asked the puja organising committees to make arrangements for ‘dhadi darshan’ at their pandals,” Mishra told reporters in Bhubaneswar.
The DGP said police personnel and volunteers had been deployed at the entrance and exit gates of the pandals to regulate the movement of devotees. Authorities will limit the number of people entering a pandal at one time, and entry will be stopped if someone falls inside, he said.
Mobile units, anti-snatching teams, anti-eve-teasing squads and a striking force have also been positioned at strategic locations, according to Mishra. The movement of four-wheelers has been restricted on narrow roads leading to the pandals. Ambulances and fire service teams have been deployed at the venues, he added.
Kataka-Bhubaneswar Police Commissioner S Dev Datta Singh said puja committees were responsible for ensuring the safety of devotees at their respective venues, while the police were responsible for regulating arrangements and providing security.
“It is the responsibility of the puja organising committees to ensure the safety of the devotees at their pandals. We are regulating it and providing necessary security arrangements,” Singh said.
Singh said several meetings had been held with stakeholders and that organisers had been instructed to install CCTV cameras and deploy enough volunteers to manage crowds. The administration has issued guidelines for organising the puja, and strong action will be taken if violations are found, he said.
The police commissioner also stressed the need to maintain queue-based darshan arrangements at the pandals. The measures place responsibility on organisers to manage entry and exit points while requiring police and emergency services to support crowd regulation and respond to incidents.
Inspector General of Police, Central Range, Satyajit Naik appealed to people to celebrate Durga Puja peacefully and maintain discipline, harmony and mutual respect. He said processions and immersion ceremonies should be conducted in an orderly manner to protect public safety.
Naik also urged devotees, puja committees, organisers and volunteers to discharge their responsibilities sincerely and ensure that celebrations did not inconvenience others. He cautioned people against drunken driving, reckless driving and disorderly behaviour.
The IGP further advised people not to believe or circulate messages, photographs or videos without checking their authenticity. He warned that unverified information and provocative social media posts could create confusion, fear and tension and disturb communal harmony.
The Odisha Police directions followed the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal stampede in north Kolkata on Saturday evening. The incident occurred after a surge in the crowd amid rain, leaving at least 19 people dead and 25 injured.
