The police took seven people into custody on Saturday night, including Raj Kumar Sewda, secretary of the Chorbagan Durga Puja committee, and Santanu Dubey, its vice‑president, along with Biplab Mukherjee, who helped build the bamboo structure, and security in‑charges Suman Chakraborty and Rajesh Pal.
Initial reports point to an announcement on the loudspeaker that triggered a rush of devotees under heavy rain, while a whistle blown by private security guards further amplified the panic. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the sound cues frightened crowds into a frenzy, but the exact words played remain unknown.
Chorbagan, a narrow lane in North Kolkata, saw more than 10,000 revelers on Saptami, the seventh day of the ten‑day Durga Puja festival, as the city’s monsoon drenched the already saturated ground. Nearly 3,500 pandals operate across Kolkata, making crowd management a perennial challenge.
In the wake of the tragedy, Adhikari called for better lighting and multiple entry‑exit gates at all theme‑based pandals, warning that “lives of people are more valuable than themes.” He ordered several high‑profile pandals – including ‘Tala Pratyay’ and ‘Alipore Sarbojanin’ – to close temporarily while authorities review safety protocols.
The forensic department, the police’s Special Task Force, and the fire brigade have taken over the site for a detailed investigation. The police will file charges against the arrested organisers and present the case in court next month, while the city administration plans to re‑evaluate crowd‑control measures before the next festival season.