Bolstering safety measures in Durga Puja pandals, the West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services Department has issued notices to three prominent Durga Puja committees in the South Kolkata over alleged shortcomings in their fire safety arrangements, an official told media reporters.
Chetla Agrani, Ballygunge Cultural Association and Tridhara Sammilani were issued notices following a high-level fire service team inspection, officials added.
The development stemmed from a stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata on Saturday, which killed nearly 19 people and injured several others. The incident has prompted the state government to increase the scrutiny of crowd management and safety arrangement across major puja venues.
On Sunday, the fire service authorities ordered immediate removal of unauthorized temporary commercial structures and hawker stalls near the pandal. Citing fire risks, particularly from LPG cylinders placed close to the structures made of highly inflammable materials, the order was issued.
During the inspection, the officials also stressed on the need for adequate lighting and ventilation inside the pandals to eliminate dark spots, improve visibility and help manage crowds. The authorities also called for sufficient air conditioning and fan units to improve ventilation and prevent suffocation due to overcrowding.
A senior functionary of Tridhara Sammilani, Debasish Kumar, in a media interaction on Monday told that the committee had received no objection certificate from the department before the inauguration of the pandal.
Subsequently, Ballygunge Cultural Association was asked to improve lighting in its pandal and ensure that commercial activities did not obstruct the entry and exit routes.
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.”
In terms of scrutinization of the Department officials responsible for management of the Durga Puja pandal, officer in charge of Girish Park police station, under which the Chowrabagan area falls, was shunted out, according to sources. Sumit Kumar Ghosh, the officer in question, has been replaced by Hirak Dalapati from the Detective Department of the Kolkata Police, with an additional charge of the Girish Park PS and was directed to assume his responsibilities effective Sunday.
“Hirak Dalapati, Inspector of Police (I-Cadre), Detective Department of Kolkata Police, will look after the work of the office of the Officer-In-Charge of Girish Park PS under Central Division, Kolkata Police, in addition to his own duties, with immediate effect in the interest of public service until further orders,” an official order states.
Additionally, Kolkata Police headquarters at Lalbazar has sent 11 stern strict notifications to all the police stations along with urgent deployment of nine experienced rifles officers at the pandals for crowd management during the remaining days of the festival.