Kolkata Puja stampede probe: 'Pathetically narrow' exits, locked emergency gate killed 19
Synopsis
A judicial probe panel has found that the Chorbagan Sarbojonin Durga Puja pandal had ‘pathetically narrow’ exits and a locked emergency gate on the night 19 people died in a stampede. A misleading microphone announcement warning of structural collapse triggered the fatal rush — and the man suspected of making it has now been detained by Kolkata Police.
Key Takeaways
19 people died and 25 were injured in a stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojonin Durga Puja pandal on Saturday night in Kolkata .
Probe panel chief Justice Anindita Roy Saraswati (retired) described entry and exit routes as 22 October 2026 .
The emergency exit was locked when the stampede unfolded, according to police statements to the panel.
Dim lighting inside the pandal is also under scrutiny as a contributing factor.
Sanjib Raha (alias Sentu), treasurer of the organising committee, was detained for allegedly making a false announcement warning of structural collapse, which triggered mass panic.
The pandal structure must remain intact until the investigation is complete, even as idol immersion permissions are considered.
Justice Anindita Roy Saraswati (retired), the chairperson of the six-member judicial probe panel constituted by the West Bengal government, on Thursday, 22 October confirmed that the entry and exit routes of the Chorbagan Sarbojonin Durga Puja pandal were “pathetically narrow” — a structural failure that investigators say directly contributed to the stampede that claimed 19 lives and injured 25 others on Saturday night.
What the On-Site Inspection Revealed
The probe panel conducted its first official site inspection on Thursday, examining the pandal under the same lighting conditions that prevailed during the tragedy. Justice Saraswati noted that dim lighting inside the pandal compounded crowd confusion, while preliminary findings indicated that the emergency exit was locked at the precise moment chaos erupted on the premises.
“The entrance and exit to the pavilion are very narrow. There were also poor lighting arrangements within the pandal premises. The police said that the emergency exit was closed at the time of the accident. It seems that the police acted correctly. We inspected the entire pavilion under the same lighting conditions as during the incident. The entire setup was disappointing. No conclusions can be drawn right now,” Justice Saraswati told reporters.
The Chain of Events That Triggered the Stampede
According to investigators, a convergence of hazards set off the fatal crush. Heavy rain had already created pressure at the pandal gates, with crowds outside attempting to push in for shelter while visitors already inside resisted leaving. In the midst of this mounting tension, a misleading announcement over the microphone — warning of an imminent structural collapse — triggered widespread panic. Visitors rushed towards exits simultaneously, with many attempting to leave via the entry gate, leading to the fatal stampede.
The individual alleged to have made the false announcement is under investigation. On Thursday, Kolkata Police detained Sanjib Raha (alias Sentu), the treasurer of the Chorbagan Sarbojonin organising committee, on suspicion of issuing the misleading public address.
Status of Idols and Ongoing Investigation
The idols from the pandal remain inside the structure pending investigation. Justice Saraswati clarified that even if permission for the immersion of the idols is granted, the pandal structure must remain intact to facilitate further examination by the probe panel.
Broader Safety Concerns in Focus
This incident has thrown a sharp spotlight on crowd-management and safety standards at large public gatherings across West Bengal, particularly during the Durga Puja festival season — one of the largest congregation events in the country. Critics argue that locked emergency exits and inadequate passage widths represent systemic lapses that regulators and organisers must address urgently. This is among the deadliest stampede incidents at a Puja pandal in recent memory. The six-member judicial panel is expected to submit its findings after completing its full probe, with the final report set to guide accountability and future safety protocols.
Point of View
Certifiable, and enforceable failures. That a misleading microphone announcement could convert a rain-aggravated crowd surge into a 19-death tragedy points to the absence of any real-time crowd-management protocol. The judicial panel’s preliminary findings are damning, but their value will only be realised if West Bengal — and other states — translate them into mandatory structural and operational standards before the next festival season. Accountability for the treasurer is just the beginning; the deeper question is why these pandals are permitted to operate without verified safety certification in the first place.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the Kolkata Chorbagan Durga Puja stampede?
The stampede on Saturday night was triggered by a combination of a rain-driven crowd surge, narrow entry and exit passages, a locked emergency exit, and a misleading microphone announcement warning of a structural collapse. The false warning caused visitors to rush the exits simultaneously, resulting in the fatal crush that killed 19 people and injured 25.
Who is heading the judicial probe into the Kolkata Puja stampede?
Justice Anindita Roy Saraswati (retired) heads the six-member judicial probe panel constituted by the West Bengal government. The panel conducted its first official site inspection on 22 October 2026, examining the pandal under the same lighting conditions as during the incident.
Who has been detained in connection with the stampede?
Kolkata Police detained Sanjib Raha, also known as Sentu, the treasurer of the Chorbagan Sarbojonin organising committee. He is suspected of making the misleading public address announcement that warned of an imminent structural collapse and sparked the panic.
What were the key safety failures identified at the pandal?
The probe panel identified three immediate failures: entry and exit routes described as ‘pathetically narrow’, poor lighting inside the pandal, and an emergency exit that was locked at the time of the accident. Investigators inspected the site under identical lighting conditions to the night of the tragedy.
Will the idols inside the pandal be immersed?
The idols remain inside the pandal pending further investigation. Justice Saraswati stated that even if permission for immersion is granted, the pandal structure must remain intact to allow the probe panel to complete its examination.
