Fire breaks out at South Kolkata Durga Puja pandal:Lamp ignites idol’s saree, damages its face; Chorebagan pandal stampede killed 19 two days ago

A fire broke out at the Nehru Colony Durga Puja pandal in South Kolkata, hours after the stampede at the Chorebagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata. Fire breaks out at south Kolkata pandal The pandal has been closed to visitors following the incident. According to the fire brigade, the flames reportedly spread from a ceremonial lamp (pradip) to the saree of the Durga idol, damaging the idol’s face. The organisers are examining footage to ascertain the exact cause and sequence of events leading to the fire. Pandal closed after flames damage idol’s face The incident has raised fresh concerns over fire safety and crowd management at Durga Puja pandals in the city, particularly on a day already marked by a tragic stampede in North Kolkata. Chorebagan tragedy investigation gathers pace in Bengal The investigation into the Chorebagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja tragedy has gathered pace, with West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal set to write to the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court on Monday. Chief secretary seeks judge for high-powered committee According to Nabanna sources, the Chief Secretary is sending a letter to the Chief Justice seeking the name of a sitting High Court judge to head a high-powered committee to investigate the Chorebagan pandal accident. Committee to investigate accident under sitting judge Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had earlier announced that a committee would be formed under a sitting judge of the Calcutta High Court to investigate the incident, which occurred during a Durga Puja organised with the state government’s permission. Following the accident on Saturday night, the chief minister had assured that no one would be spared if any negligence by the puja organisers or police personnel was established.