The second day of Durga Puja was overshadowed by the stampede in Kolkata the night before, which killed 19 people, including a seven-year-old. As bereaved families collected bodies from morgues, the Government announced sweeping safety measures, with a high-level committee inspecting compliance.
While police arrested seven people, including organisers of Chorbagan Durga Puja, for the pandal stampede, Union Home Minister Amit Shah cancelled his puja engagements to meet 14 injured people undergoing treatment at a private hospital. The court produced the seven arrested, including the Chorbagan puja committee general secretary and vice-president.
Police have registered a suo motu case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
CM Suvendu Adhikari attended a high-level meeting at the CID headquarters and later hinted at scrapping the practice of Durga Puja pandals having VIP gates, and ordered a review of safety arrangements at major pujas.
CM said the special team of nine IPS officers formed will inspect safety arrangements at all puja pandals in the city and make decisions on the spot. “If necessary, the number of visitors will be regulated. There will be no separate queues for VIPs,” CM said.
The team was formed under the leadership of the State disaster management department secretary, Rajesh Kumar Singh; Fire Services DG, Anuj Sharma; and Special Task Force ADG, Javed Shamim.