Suvendu Adhikari blames temporary Home Guards for Chorbagan stampede

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has raised serious questions regarding the role of temporary Home Guards following a stampede at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata, which resulted in 19 deaths.

Speaking at Bhavani Bhavan, the Chief Minister alleged that the personnel responsible for crowd control abandoned their posts when it began to rain, letting go of the ropes used to manage the crowds. This sudden movement reportedly caused chaos and contributed to the fatal incident. Adhikari expressed strong dissatisfaction, stating, “We have been carrying garbage, but no more,” while promising that action will be taken.

In response to the tragedy, the Chief Minister has requested the full list of these temporary Home Guards to investigate their recruitment and conduct. He also noted that some personnel appeared to have difficulty communicating in Bengali. To prevent future incidents, Adhikari has directed that VIP passes be discontinued at major puja pandals in favor of a single-line entry system for all visitors to ensure better crowd management.