📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Subhrajyoti07
Religion
Odisha orders queue‑based entry at Durga Puja pandals after Kolkata stampede
✍️ India Today
🗓 19 Oct 2026, 02:15 AM
👁 12
Following a deadly stampede at a Kolkata Durga Puja event, the Odisha government has directed all pandals in the state to adopt a queue‑based entry system to manage crowds.
A fatal stampede at a Durga Puja celebration in Kolkata has prompted authorities in neighboring Odisha to tighten crowd‑control measures at their own festivities. The incident, which resulted in several casualties, raised concerns about the safety of large gatherings during the month‑long Hindu festival.
In response, the Odisha state government issued an advisory mandating that every Durga Puja pandal adopt a queue‑based entry protocol. The directive, signed by the state’s cultural affairs minister, requires organizers to set up clearly marked lines, use ticket‑or‑ID verification at entry points, and limit the number of visitors allowed inside at any given time.
Officials said the new system will be implemented from the start of the upcoming Puja season and will be monitored by local police and municipal officers. The government has also urged pandal committees to coordinate with security agencies to ensure smooth movement of devotees while preventing overcrowding.
The move reflects a broader effort by Indian states to improve safety standards at religious events after recent tragedies. By enforcing orderly queues, Odisha hopes to protect worshippers and maintain the festive spirit of Durga Puja without compromising public safety.
In response, the Odisha state government issued an advisory mandating that every Durga Puja pandal adopt a queue‑based entry protocol. The directive, signed by the state’s cultural affairs minister, requires organizers to set up clearly marked lines, use ticket‑or‑ID verification at entry points, and limit the number of visitors allowed inside at any given time.
Officials said the new system will be implemented from the start of the upcoming Puja season and will be monitored by local police and municipal officers. The government has also urged pandal committees to coordinate with security agencies to ensure smooth movement of devotees while preventing overcrowding.
The move reflects a broader effort by Indian states to improve safety standards at religious events after recent tragedies. By enforcing orderly queues, Odisha hopes to protect worshippers and maintain the festive spirit of Durga Puja without compromising public safety.