'My mother died before my eyes': How rain-hit Kolkata puja pandal descended into chaos

KOLKATA: Cries for help rang out as people fell over one another inside a crowded Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata on Saturday evening. As heavy rain drove visitors towards the entrance, a stampede broke out, leaving 19 people dead and several others injured. Among those killed was the mother of 25-year-old Sonu Pal, who had gone to the pandal with her son. "My mother died before my eyes; I too might not have survived," Pal said, still in shock after the incident. Pal, a resident of Kumortuli, said the trouble began when a sudden downpour prompted people to crowd near the entrance to escape the rain. "It was raining outside and nobody wanted to step outside. People who were standing at the entrance to escape the rain kept pushing to get in," he said. The pressure soon became unbearable, he added. "Unable to handle the pressure, everybody inside fell on one another," he recounted. Pal said he was also trapped beneath the crowd but managed to regain his footing and reach his mother. By then, she was no longer there. "I was also trapped under the crowd. I somehow managed to steady myself and went to my mother, but she was no longer there," he said. The stampede occurred around 7.40 pm in the Girish Park police station area at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal. Police said the injured were rescued and taken to Medical College and Hospital. ‘I did not know whether she was alive or dead’ For Arati Sarkar's husband, the evening had begun as a trip to enjoy the festivities together. The couple had travelled from Chakdah to Kolkata and visited Santosh Mitra Square before deciding to go to Chorbagan. He said he had suggested skipping the pandal because he expected it to be crowded, but his wife wanted to see its interiors after watching videos on social media. When they arrived, the crowd had spilled on to Central Avenue, and visitors were waiting in a queue. As the rain began, he became concerned about the arrangements. He alleged that volunteers removed barricades and allowed people to enter as the rain started. The couple were pushed into the pandal by the crowd. Inside, he said, it was dark and packed with people. They could barely breathe before a fresh surge of people from behind caused a stampede. He fell to the ground and became separated from his wife. Amid the shouting and pushing, he struggled to find her. Once he managed to stand up, he searched frantically. He eventually found Arati lying motionless on the ground. He took her in his arms and called for help, but said no ambulance was available immediately. It took more than an hour for an ambulance to be arranged, he said. At the hospital, doctors told him that his wife had been brought dead. He said he was not allowed to see her and was asked to report to the police station in the morning. "When we left home, we were happy and excited about spending time together in Kolkata. We had planned to enjoy the pujas, visit pandals and have dinner together. Little did I know that this would be my last puja with my wife," he said. (Sarkar, husband of victim Arati Sarkar, spoke to TOI reporter Zeeshan Jawed)Families wait for news of loved ones Priya Samaddar, 20, from Madhyamgram, had been visiting pandals with a friend before the two went to Chorbagan. Her father, Shyamal Samaddar, was inconsolable at the hospital after learning of her death. “She came with her friend. They visited many pandals before going to Chorbagan. Her friend called me up at 8.30 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. Other families were still trying to locate relatives who had gone to the pandal. Tupun Roy, a resident of Santoshpur, said his brother-in-law had visited Chorbagan with friends but was not answering calls. “He had said he would be going to Chorbagan with his friends. We are calling him but there is no response. The cops are asking us to wait. This is inhuman and insensitive,” Roy said. Police probe crowd management, security arrangements Kolkata Police are investigating whether lapses in crowd management, confusion over entry and exit routes, and heavy rain contributed to the stampede, a senior officer said. Several eyewitnesses alleged that announcements about entry, exit and crowd movement were inadequate, leaving visitors confused during the rush. Local residents also questioned the police deployment, claiming that personnel were mainly stationed near the VIP entrance. "I have not seen adequate police presence this year. This resulted in the mismanagement," said Sanghamitra Bhowmik, a resident of the Chorbagan area. Residents also alleged that administrative assistance in shifting the injured to hospitals was inadequate. "There must be some lapses, but these should be probed. Whether lapses were on the part of the organisers or they had flouted the rules to erect the pandal will be checked," the police officer told PTI. Police are examining crowd-control measures, arrangements at the venue and the response during the emergency. Investigators will also study eyewitness accounts and other evidence, the officer said. A forensic team reached the site late on Saturday and began collecting evidence. Police have spoken to the organisers and sought a list of security guards and others employed to manage the crowd. Officers will also question policemen deployed at the venue and examine CCTV footage to establish the roles of those present during the incident, the officer added. Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari visited the hospital where the injured were being treated. He raised concerns about the lighting at some pandals and urged organisers to follow official advice. "Many pandals are dimly lit in the name of theme puja," he said. According to the chief minister, family members of two victims alleged that whistles blown by private security guards at the venue contributed to the rush. Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nanda also visited the hospital. Sources at Medical College and Hospital said the injured were admitted to its emergency department, while 11 patients were shifted to SSKM Hospital. 13 women and a child were among the deceased, according to a source quoted by news agency PTI, at the medical college. The West Bengal government has set up a toll-free helpline, 18003455678, for people seeking information about those affected by the incident.