Videos Show Crowd Surges At Kolkata Pandal Prior To Stampede
· India · Times of India, The Hindu
Footage has emerged showing revellers pushing past barricades and tussling with police personnel at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata on the day before a fatal stampede. The pandal had experienced heavy visitor traffic since opening, leading authorities to impose temporary crowd movement restrictions over the preceding four days. Located inside the narrow Radha Madhab Saha Lane, the venue drew large crowds that spilled onto Central Avenue and crowded the approach corridor. The situation turned tragic at approximately 7.30pm on Saturday when a sudden heavy downpour prompted thousands of visitors waiting outside to rush inside for shelter. Eyewitnesses reported that people who had completed their visit were unable to exit because others refused to leave, increasing pressure from behind.
Why it matters
The pre-tragedy footage highlights ongoing crowd management and safety vulnerabilities at major festival venues across urban centres.
Read the original report — Times of India
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