The West Bengal government has deployed 18 senior IPS officers to oversee Durga Puja immersion logistics in Kolkata and surrounding regions. This action follows a recent stampede at the Chorbagan pandal that resulted in 19 fatalities. The administration is prioritizing crowd management and public safety through October 24 to prevent further incidents during the peak festive period.
The West Bengal government has launched an extensive security operation to manage Durga Puja idol immersions across Kolkata, Howrah, Barrackpore, and Chandannagar. Following a stampede at the Chorbagan pandal on Mahasaptami which resulted in 19 fatalities, the state administration has mobilized 18 senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers to ensure public order during the final days of the festival.
Strategic Operational Deployment
The security strategy involves a concentrated presence of senior leadership at key immersion points, including the Babughat area in Kolkata. Out of the 18 officers deployed, 12 have been tasked with maintaining crowd control and managing logistics within Kolkata. An additional six senior officers have been assigned to handle oversight in Howrah, Barrackpore, and Chandannagar. To bolster these efforts, the government has integrated the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) into the security apparatus, providing emergency response capabilities to manage any potential risks during the high-traffic immersion processions.
Managing The Festive Timeline
The official oversight schedule is effective from October 21 through October 24. To ensure consistent monitoring during the final immersion phase, the administration has implemented a rotational duty system. Officers will work in split shifts to cover the designated immersion sites. Officials including Gaurav Sharma, Soma Das Mitra, and Akash Magharia are scheduled to lead operations on October 21 and 23. A separate team, including Praveen Kumar Tripathi and Imran Wahab, will take over supervision on October 22 and 24. This structured approach aims to maintain enforcement consistency and prevent overcrowding during the remainder of the festive window, which serves as a significant period for both social activity and local commercial operations in the region.