CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Kolkata. After a stampede during Durga Puja in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, the state government and the departments concerned have begun reviewing security arrangements. As part of this process, fire safety notices have been issued to three Durga Puja pandals. Officials said the action is aimed at ensuring compliance with safety standards at puja venues and preventing a recurrence of such incidents.
Questions over security arrangements after the stampede: Large numbers of devotees visit Kolkata’s pandals during Durga Puja. When crowds swell, entry and exit routes, emergency passages and firefighting arrangements become extremely important. Following the stampede, questions have been raised over crowd management and safety arrangements at pandals.
Fire safety notices to three pandals: The administration has issued fire safety-related notices to three puja pandals. Through these notices, the organisers concerned may be asked to respond on compliance with safety rules and necessary arrangements. However, the issuance of notices does not mean that any pandal has been held responsible for the incident. The departments concerned will decide further action on the basis of inquiry and inspection.
Organisers directed to follow safety standards: Firefighting equipment, emergency exits, crowd control and the availability of adequate passageways are crucial at puja events. Amid the administrative action, organisers are responsible for ensuring necessary arrangements for the safety of devotees. There should be clear arrangements to evacuate people safely in any emergency.
Focus on further inquiry: An inquiry into the causes of the stampede and possible lapses in security arrangements is important. The findings of the administrative probe will make clear which arrangements were lacking and who bears responsibility. For now, after notices were issued to three pandals, security arrangements at Durga Puja events in Kolkata are likely to come under increased monitoring.
Hashtags: #WestBengal #Kolkata #Bhopal #DurgaPuja #PujaPandals #Stampede #FireSafety #FireSafetyNotices #CrowdManagement #SecurityArrangements
