Kolkata: "World's largest Durga" becomes inaccessible for overcrowding

Publishing a statement on Facebook, Kolkata Traffic Police stated: "Deshapriya Park Durga Puja Pandal is temporarily closed for the viewers. All the citizens of Kolkata are requested to move forward to view other Puja Pandals."

On Sunday evening, Deshapriya Park pandal was overcrowded as a huge number of worshippers came to witness the tallest Durga idol.

The police and organizers failed to control the crowd and 11 viewers, including two children, were injured during a tussle among the viewers. A stampede-like-situation was almost created there. No casualty has been reported so far.

One senior police official of Kolkata Traffic Police told IBNS: "We are closing Deshapriya Park for viewers temporarily to control the mob and traffic. We are requesting the pandal hoppers not to visit Deshapriya Park tonight."

The traffic in south Kolkata has been completely disrupted for overcrowding in the pandal. Police have closed all Deshapriya Park-bound roads including Rash Behari Avenue and Sarat Bose Road to control the traffic.

A senior police official told IBNS: "We had planned a very good traffic management, but for unexpected crowd on Panchami, we are managing the traffic in a new and better way. Hope everything would be normal very soon."

Kolkata Police Commissioner Surajit Kar Purakayastha, Special Additional and Joint Commissioner of Kolkata Police (Hdq) Rajeev Mishra, Joint Police Commissioner (Traffic) Supratim Sarkar visited Deshapriya Park via metro rail and observed the situation.

Kolkata CP Surajit Kar Purakayastha said, "The planning of the organizers' was not sufficient here. We have closed the access to ensure the viewers' security. It will be closed until the situation becomes normal. Will let you know when the access will be given."

Deshapriya Park Durga Puja organizers said that they have made sufficient arrangements for viewers.

Meanwhile, metro railway service has also been affected.

Kolkata Metro Rail's Chief Public Relation Officer (CPRO) Indrani Banerjee told IBNS: "We had decided to provide extra train service from Saptami, Tuesday. Today's situation was completely unexpected. We are helpless. Trains are having to stop at Kalighat station specially for 10-15 mins. We have deployed huge security guards and metro staff to that station and are requesting the passengers to cooperate with us."

The Deshapriya Park Durga idol had created a hype among pandal hoppers for the past few months with several advertisemnts spread across the city and aired on TV channels.

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachhan also appreciated the idol and posted a picture of the idol on his twitter page.

" The idol of Durga is made in cement and the largest Durga idol in the world .. and it stands in Kolkata !!"Bachchan tweeted.

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha, Image: IBNS)