Fresh crowd control measures for pandals
Kolkata, Oct. 20 -- The police and Durga Puja organisers in Kolkata have issued a raft of guidelines on crowd management in the pandals following the Chor Bagan stampede that claimed 19 lives and left 25 people injured two days ago, people aware of the development said on Monday.
The Forum for Durgostab, an umbrella organisation of around 400 prominent puja committees, has asked puja organisers to keep at least 10 raincoats in each pandal and walkie-takie sets. Regular announcements need to be made asking people not to make videos or take selfies inside the pandals, the people said.
"A meeting was held with more than 100 prominent pujas on Sunday. A fresh set of guidelines has been issued for better crowd management in the puja pandals," said Saswata Basu, a senior member of the forum.
Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari also held a meeting with senior police officers and bureaucrats on Sunday.
A committee headed by the state disaster management secretary and comprising officers from the fire department and the special task force of police was set up. It was asked to take a fresh look at the security arrangements. "If needed, the crowd will be restricted. There will be no separate queues for VIPs," he told the media.
A senior police officer said officers-in-charge and assistant commissioners have been directed to visit the prominent puja pandals, which have been registering heavy footfall over the past few days. The forum has further asked its members to ensure that at least one ambulance is kept in each zone....
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