| Summary: Every year every nook and corner of West Bengal gets decorated to celebrate Durga puja. Somewhere it is celebrated in traditional manner while somewhere it is celebrated keeping various themes in mind. Every year all the puja organizations and clubs get ready to compete with each other regarding the various themes put up. This often results in crowd and sometimes mishaps occur just as this year Chorbagan Durga Puja has witnessed. A vigilant team with an adept crowd management system is the need of the hour in order to rule out any chance of casualties. |
At least 19 people died and 50 others were injured in a stampede at Chorabagan Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata on 17 October evening. The dead included 13 women and a child. The last major stampede during Durga Puja took place at Deshapriya Park in 2015 when a huge crowd converged to view the world's largest Durga Idol. Several people fell ill but suffered no death.
Causes:
Local residents blamed poor crowd management for the disaster. The policemen and the volunteers were not seen in the place at the time of disaster.
A huge crowd waiting in the narrow Radha Madhab Saha Lane to enter the Puja pandal suddenly surged ahead when sudden downpours began around 7.15 pm. There was also a huge gathering at that time inside the pandal. Suddenly exit and entry were almost blocked.
There was an announcement of collapse of the ramp which spread panic among the people. This misleading announcement by the Puja Committee added to the chaos.
A sudden and unexpected sharp spell of shower for an hour on Saturday evening spelt disaster for revellers at the Chorabagan Puja Pandal. The rain turned the ground soggy making foothold difficult, contributing to the stampede, according to the weather officials. According to witness, thousands of people were waiting to enter the Puja pandal when the skies opened up.
The pandel design, which required visitors to take a flight of stairs from an upper deck to the lower level near the exit, contributed to the disaster.
Doctors at Medical College Kolkata said the deaths were mostly due to suffocation. Many of the victims also had injuries due to stampede.
The conclusions:
Failure to seperate entry and exit ----------------- people couldn't move freely at the time of crowd Surge.
Inadequate police deployment ------------------------ insufficient personnel at critical points to control the crowd.
Possible deficiency in emergency planning --------------------- delays in identifying the danger, evacuating visitors and assisting injured people.
Inadequate crowd management -----------------the number of visitors exceeded the capacity inside and outside the Puja pandal .
Narrow entry and exit routes ----------------------people could not move when the crowd surged.
Confusing announcement -------------------------- unclear and misleading instructions had triggered panic and sudden move of the crowd .
Following the administrative instructions major pujas across Kolkata started shutting down from 8pm on Saturday, bringing pandal -hopping to an abrupt halt.
After the Chorabagan Puja incident Chetla Agrani stopped the entry point before a crowd surge. Durga Pujas , including Tala Prattay, College Square and Md Ali Park were shut down as a precautionary measure.
Sabyasachi Chowdhury of Chetla Agrani said a sharp spell of shower on Saturday, 17October, led to a huge crowd build up inside the pandal. The volunteers were concerned and , "we closed entry gates, opened the exits and removed all barricades so that the people could disperse quickly."
In 2015, when stampede broke out at Deshapriya Park, the main gate was locked at once. An announcement was made to disperse the crowd into the nearby alley, the avenue beside Deshapriya Park. People crossed the railings of road dividers and also metro station gates, railway stations were blocked in order to safely disperse the crowd gathered. Without any casualty then, the Kolkata police had successfully managed the stampede within half an hour. However, this time, the police were busy dismantling bookstalls rather than providing immediate help in case of stampede.
Stampede at Chorbagan Durga Puja Pandal, Kolkata Public grievance:
The emergency department of Calcutta Medical College and Hospital was gripped by chaos and grief as stampede victims started being rushed around Saturday 8 pm. Victims of the stampede continued to be brought to the hospital till 10 pm.
The people were angry at the lack of arrangements and claimed the victims were brought to the hospital in private cars and cabs.
Priya somaddar, 20, from Madhyamgram was out pandel -hopping with a friend. Her father Shyamal Samaddar, was inconsolable at the hospital after being told of her death. " She came with her friend. They visited many pandels before going to Chorabagan. Her friend called me up at 8.30 pm and gave me the news. I rushed to the hospital, but they are not allowing me to see my daughter, I will never forgive those who are responsible for her death " he said. Outside the hospital, police personnel and vehicles lined the area as senior ministers, BJP functionaries and police officials arrived in convoys. Several angry relatives tried to approach the visiting officials, but were stopped by the police.
Immediate steps to be taken:
Best possible treatment for all injured people.
Financial assistance to the families of the victims without delay.
Psychological support for the survivors and bereaved families.
Verified list of the deceased and injured persons to be published.
Proper investigation of the disaster to be initiated immediately.
Police personnel, puja organizers. Private security agency and the contractors responsible for pandal construction should be under investigation process.
Responsible individuals should face appropriate legal action.
Conduct emergency safety inspection, temporary close down of the pandals which are not following safety measures and safe crowd management.
Deployment of sufficient police and trained crowd management personnel.
Install good public address system c.
Prepare efficient evacuation plan.
- Keep ready ambulance and medical practitioners.
The Chief Minister has announced a 25 lakh rupees compensation and a Group D government job for the family of each person killed in the stampede at Kolkata’s Chorbagan puja pandal.
Sources:
Tamaghna Bannerjee, CM Blames Organisers, says , 'Action will be taken ' The Times of India, 18 October , Kolkata .
Zeeshan Jawed, As festival turns into tragedy........, The Times of India, October 18, Kolkata .
Prithvijit Mitra, Sharp spell turns ........ Death trap, The Times of india, October 18 , Kolkata . Shantanu Ghosh, Milan Haldar, mondope podopristho,mrito 19 , Anandabazar potrika , 18 October Kolkata.
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