West Bengal government has issued new safety guidelines for Kali Puja and Jagadhatri Puja pandals following the deadly Kolkata Durga Puja stampede that killed 19 people. The guidelines prioritise fire prevention, crowd management, adequate lighting and emergency medical facilities.
In the aftermath of the deadly stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata, which claimed 19 lives, the West Bengal government has introduced a fresh set of safety guidelines for community Kali Puja and Jagadhatri Puja celebrations across the state.
The new standard operating procedure (SOP) issued by the state administration focuses on three major areas: fire prevention, crowd management and adequate lighting arrangements within pandal premises. The measures aim to prevent similar tragedies during upcoming religious festivals and ensure the safety of devotees visiting community puja pandals.
According to a state government official, the guidelines have been prepared keeping in mind the circumstances surrounding the Chorbagan stampede. The official pointed out that dim lighting arrangements, introduced to complement the puja theme at the pandal, had created difficulties for effective crowd management.
Taking this into consideration, the administration has instructed all community Kali Puja and Jagadhatri Puja organisers to ensure sufficient lighting throughout their pandal premises. Particular attention has been given to lighting arrangements at entrances and exit gates so that visitors can move safely and volunteers can monitor crowd movement effectively.
The government has also directed puja committees to ensure that entrance and exit gates are sufficiently wide to facilitate the smooth movement of devotees. Properly designed entry and exit arrangements are expected to reduce congestion and minimise the possibility of overcrowding during peak visiting hours.
Crowd management has been identified as one of the most important components of the new safety guidelines. The administration has instructed organisers to deploy an adequate number of volunteers based on the expected number of visitors to each pandal.
The volunteers will be responsible for monitoring crowd movement, managing queues and ensuring that devotees can enter and leave the premises without creating excessive pressure inside the pandal.
A specific crowd-control arrangement has also been outlined in the SOP. Devotees waiting outside must be allowed to enter only after those already inside have exited the premises. This sequential entry system is intended to prevent overcrowding and ensure that the number of people inside a pandal remains manageable.
The administration believes that regulating the entry of visitors in this manner will help avoid situations in which excessive crowd pressure could become difficult to control. Puja committees have therefore been asked to make appropriate arrangements for implementing the system throughout the celebrations.
Emergency medical facilities have also received attention under the new guidelines. Major community puja organisers have been instructed to arrange ambulances to deal with medical emergencies. Additionally, first-aid facilities must be made available at every pandal to provide immediate assistance to devotees who may require medical attention.
Fire prevention and emergency response form the third major component of the standard operating procedure. The state administration has instructed puja committees to keep adequate fire extinguishers within pandal premises as a precautionary measure against possible fire incidents.
The West Bengal Fire Services Department has also been directed to ensure a prompt response to fire emergencies. According to the guidelines, fire tenders should reach the affected location within 15 minutes of receiving information about a fire incident.
The directive highlights the importance of coordination between puja organisers and emergency response agencies to minimise risks during large public gatherings.
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The new guidelines come at a crucial time, as community Kali Puja and Jagadhatri Puja celebrations attract large numbers of devotees and visitors across West Bengal. Following the loss of 19 lives in the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal stampede, the administration is placing greater emphasis on preventive measures rather than relying solely on emergency responses after an incident.
Through the revised SOP, the state government has sought to strengthen safety arrangements at community pandals by addressing lighting, entry and exit management, volunteer deployment, medical preparedness and fire safety.
The administration’s latest directions are intended to help puja committees organise celebrations in a more systematic manner while ensuring that devotees can participate in the festivals in a safe and orderly environment.
