Chorebagan Stampede: What Went Wrong At One Of Kolkata's Most Crowded Durga Puja Pandals?

The deadly stampede at Kolkata's Chorebagan Sarbojanin Durga Utsav has raised serious questions about crowd management, entry-exit planning and safety protocols during one of West Bengal's biggest festivals. This ground report examines how major Durga Puja pandals are organized, the responsibilities of puja committees, and the systems normally put in place to regulate the movement of thousands of visitors. At Chorebagan, organizers had reportedly planned separate routes for VIPs and general visitors. However, heavy rain, swelling footfall and devotees remaining inside the pandal area for longer periods may have complicated crowd movement and increased pressure on exit points.