Kolkata, Oct 26 West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari will review crowd management and emergency preparedness for the upcoming Kali Puja and Chhath Puja on October 28, officials said on Monday.
The meeting assumes significance in the backdrop of the stampede at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata that killed 19 people.
District magistrates (DMs), superintendents of police (SPs) and other senior administrative officials from several districts are expected to join the meeting through video conferencing, officials said.
“Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari will review the preparations for Kali Puja and Chhath Puja at a meeting at the state secretariat on Wednesday. Emphasis will be laid on crowd management, security and emergency preparedness,” a senior official said.
Disaster management measures are also likely to figure in the discussions, he added.
Barasat and Naihati in North 24 Parganas district, and Krishnanagar in Nadia district, are known for their elaborate Kali Puja celebrations, which draw large crowds. This year, Kali Puja will be held on November 8.
Chhath Puja is also celebrated on a large scale in Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, Siliguri, Durgapur and Asansol. The festival will begin on November 13.
“The CM will review arrangements at major Kali Puja pandals, including entry and exit routes, emergency services and lighting, as well as preparations at various ghats for Chhath Puja,” the official said.
“We want the festivals to pass off peacefully,” the official said, adding that the administration would focus on inter-departmental coordination and measures to prevent accidents during the festivities.
(PTI News)
