{
  "id": 15543659,
  "title": "Kolkata stampede: Former cops flag lack of crowd mgmt, space constraint",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/kolkata-stampede-former-cops-flag-lack-of-crowd-mgmt-space-constraint",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-19T02:13:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hindustan Times",
    "slug": "hindustan-times",
    "url": "https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/kolkata-stampede-former-cops-flag-lack-of-crowd-mgmt-space-constraint-101792349590416.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The death of 19 individuals at the Chore Bagan Durga Puja stampede in Kolkata has prompted criticism of inadequate planning and poor space management from former police officers. A former police commissioner stated that the Kolkata Police categorizes community pujas as big, medium, or small, with detailed crowd and traffic management plans prepared well in advance. The Chore Bagan puja, however, was considered a small event a decade ago, despite drawing a large crowd this year. An exit point that was 11 or 11.5 feet wide was deemed insufficient to handle the crowd, and stalls set up outside the exit further narrowed the road. Former IPS officers noted that videos showed a lack of police presence at the pandal, and a parallel path for VIPs may have further restricted the general entry. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari formed an expert team led by senior IPS officers to inspect and inquire into the incident. Artist Sushanta Shibani Pal, who designed the pandal's seating, suggested that multiple factors contributed to the tragedy, including people seeking shelter from rain and rumors of the pandal collapsing. Due to narrow roads in north Kolkata, the police imposed restrictions on public assembly in certain areas on Sunday evening.",
  "summary": "The death of 19 people at the Chore Bagan Durga Puja stampede pointed to a lack of planning and bad space management, several former officers of the Kolkata Police said on Sunday",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}