Kolkata Fire Services Issues Safety Notices to Three Durga Puja Committees

The Fire Services Department of West Bengal has initiated action against three Durga Puja committees in Kolkata following comprehensive safety inspections of their temporary structures. The notices were issued after officials identified multiple safety lapses during their routine checks of pandals scheduled for the upcoming festival.

During the inspections, fire safety officials emphasized the critical importance of adequate lighting and proper ventilation systems within pandals to eliminate dark spots and maintain clear visibility throughout the structures. These measures are essential for efficient crowd management during peak festival days when thousands of devotees visit the temporary shrines.

The department's directive underscores ongoing concerns about pandal safety standards in major metropolitan areas. Poor lighting and ventilation have been identified in previous years as contributing factors to crowd management challenges and potential safety hazards in high-traffic festival venues.

The notices require the affected committees to implement corrective measures before their pandals are opened to the public. Fire Services officials are expected to conduct follow-up inspections to ensure compliance with all prescribed safety standards before the festival commences.