Bhubaneswar: Odisha Director General of Police (DGP) Vinaytosh Mishra has directed strict security arrangements at Durga Puja pandals across the state to ensure the safety of devotees during the festive season.

Speaking about the security measures, Mishra said that large pandals have been set up in Bhubaneswar, Kataka, Balasore and other parts of Odisha, attracting a huge number of people for darshan.

“We have issued strict instructions to ensure the deployment of police personnel at every pandal. Volunteers appointed by the respective puja committees will also assist the police in managing crowds and maintaining order,” he added.

The DGP emphasised that entry and exit gates at pandals must be properly regulated to prevent overcrowding. The puja committees have been instructed to ensure that an excessive number of devotees do not gather inside pandals at any given time.

Warning about the potential dangers of overcrowding, Mishra said even a minor incident in a densely packed crowd could trigger panic and create a risk of a stampede.

“The Odisha Police is focusing on effective crowd management and coordination with puja committees to ensure that devotees can offer prayers safely and celebrate Durga Puja peacefully,” stated the DGP.

It is worth mentioning here that at least 19 people were killed and several others were injured in a stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata yesterday.

As per reports, hundreds of people congregated outside the pandal at Chorbagan in North Kolkata on Saturday evening.

As it started raining, the people waiting outside the pandal rushed forward and some of them fell on the road, leading to the stampede.