Kolkata Police book 726 traffic violations on Ashtami night amid Durga Puja
Synopsis
Kolkata Police booked 726 traffic violation cases on Ashtami night alone — almost double the rate from the festival's opening days — even as the city's Durga Puja celebrations remained shadowed by a deadly pandal stampede on Saptami that killed 19 people at Chorebagan. The dual enforcement story reveals just how high the stakes of crowd and road management are during one of India's largest public festivals.
Key Takeaways
Kolkata Police registered 726 traffic violation cases on Ashtami night , 20 October 2026 .
231 cases were for helmetless riding, 155 for triple riding, 90 for rash driving, and 81 for drunk driving.
Cases roughly doubled from ~450 on the first Saptami to 833 on the second Saptami, before 726 on Ashtami.
A stampede at the Chorebagan Sarbojonin pandal on Saptami killed 19 people and injured at least 25 ; 7 arrests have been made.
Investigators are reviewing a video of an announcer reportedly warning the pandal was about to collapse, which may have triggered the stampede panic.
Kolkata Police registered 726 traffic violation cases across the city on Ashtami night during Durga Puja 2026, officials confirmed on Tuesday, 20 October. The violations ranged from helmetless riding and triple riding to rash and drunk driving, reflecting intensified enforcement during the festival season.
Breakdown of Violations
According to figures released by Lalbazar, the Kolkata Police headquarters, 231 cases were registered against two-wheeler riders for not wearing helmets. 155 cases involved triple riding, while 90 cases were booked for rash or reckless driving and 81 cases for drunk driving. The remaining 169 cases covered other categories of traffic offences.
Rising Numbers Through the Festival
The enforcement drive has shown a sharp upward trajectory across puja days. Until Panchami, special surveillance had already been deployed on city streets. By the first Saptami (Saturday), cumulative cases stood at approximately 450. That figure climbed to 833 on the second Saptami (Sunday), before settling at 726 on Ashtami night. The number of cases filed for traffic violations has reportedly almost doubled compared to the initial days of the festival. Officials said the number of arrests has also increased during this period.
Security Context: Pandal Stampede Shadows Celebrations
This year's Durga Puja has been marked by heightened security following a tragic stampede on Saptami at the Chorebagan Sarbojonin Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata, in which 19 people lost their lives and at least 25 others were injured. Security around major pandals was subsequently stepped up across the city. Seven people have been arrested in connection with the stampede incident.
Investigators are examining a video in which an announcer can reportedly be heard saying the pandal was about to collapse. 'We are trying to identify who made the announcement and what prompted it,' a senior police officer said. The probe into the sequence of events that triggered the panic remains ongoing.
Police Response and Broader Enforcement Drive
Kolkata has, in recent years, deployed tightened traffic and crowd-management protocols during Durga Puja. This year, surveillance commenced as early as Panchami night — earlier than in previous editions — with patrolling and CCTV monitoring scaled up across the city. The dual mandate of managing festival crowds and enforcing road safety rules has made Durga Puja one of the most intensive policing exercises in West Bengal's annual calendar. As celebrations move toward Navami and Dashami, authorities are expected to maintain — and possibly intensify — their enforcement posture.
Point of View
But the more consequential story is the Chorebagan stampede that killed 19 people — and whether Kolkata Police's crowd-management framework is adequate for pandals drawing tens of thousands of visitors. The fact that surveillance began on Panchami and case numbers still doubled by Saptami raises questions about deterrence versus post-facto enforcement. The probe into who triggered the panic announcement will be the real test of accountability. Durga Puja is West Bengal's largest public-gathering event; the institutional response to this year's tragedy will set the template for how the administration approaches mass gatherings going forward.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic violation cases did Kolkata Police register on Ashtami night?
Kolkata Police registered 726 traffic violation cases on Ashtami night during Durga Puja 2026. The violations included 231 cases of helmetless riding, 155 triple-riding cases, 90 for rash driving, and 81 for drunk driving.
What happened at the Chorebagan pandal stampede during Durga Puja 2026?
A stampede at the Chorebagan Sarbojonin Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata on Saptami killed 19 people and injured at least 25 others. Seven people have been arrested and investigators are examining a video of an announcer reportedly warning the pandal was about to collapse.
How did Kolkata's traffic violation numbers change across the puja days?
Cases rose sharply through the festival — from around 450 on the first Saptami to 833 on the second Saptami, and 726 on Ashtami night. Authorities say the number of violations nearly doubled compared to the early days of the puja.
When did Kolkata Police begin their enhanced surveillance this Durga Puja?
Enhanced surveillance began from Panchami night this year, earlier than in previous editions. Patrolling, arrests, and case registrations have all increased progressively through the festival.
Who is being investigated in connection with the Chorebagan stampede?
Seven people have been arrested so far in connection with the stampede. Police are also trying to identify an announcer heard in a video saying the pandal was about to collapse, which investigators believe may have triggered the panic.
