After stampede kills 19, 3 Kolkata Durga Puja pandals get fire safety notices

The West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services Department has issued notices to three prominent Durga Puja committees in south Kolkata over alleged shortcomings in fire safety arrangements, officials told news agency Press Trust of India.The action followed a stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata on Saturday, in which 19 people were killed and several others injured. The incident prompted the state government to increase scrutiny of crowd management and safety arrangements at major puja venues.The notices were issued to Chetla Agrani, Ballygunge Cultural Association and Tridhara Sammilani after a high-level fire services team inspected major pandals and found deficiencies in their safety arrangements, officials said.On Sunday, the fire services authorities ordered the immediate removal of unauthorised temporary commercial structures and hazardous stalls near the pandals. They cited serious fire risks, particularly from LPG cylinders placed close to structures made of highly inflammable materials. During the inspections, officials stressed the need for adequate lighting and ventilation inside pandals to eliminate dark spots, improve visibility and help manage crowds. The authorities also called for sufficient fans and air-conditioning units to improve ventilation and prevent overcrowding and suffocating conditions.Debashis Kumar, a senior functionary of Tridhara Sammilani, told PTI on Monday that the committee had received a no-objection certificate from the department before inaugurating the pandal. “No highly inflammable material was used and there was proper lighting from the entrance and along the pathway. We told the team that all fire safety measures concerning crowd control are being used and sent them a compliance report,” he said.Kumar added that the movement and management of thousands of visitors were being coordinated with Kolkata Police, civil defence authorities and the civic body.Ballygunge Cultural Association was asked to improve lighting inside its pandal and ensure that commercial activities did not obstruct entry and exit routes, an official told PTI.A senior functionary of the puja committee said, “We are implementing all standard procedures with regard to safety precautions and facilitating the smooth passage of thousands of visitors. We have improved lighting and ensured that the entry of revellers is not blocked or hindered on the way to the pandal, starting from the side of Rasbehari Avenue and Triangular Park.”No official of Chetla Agrani could be contacted for comment.- Ends