A stampede at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata on Saturday resulted in the deaths of 19 people, primarily women and children, with 25 others sustaining injuries. The incident occurred amid heavy rainfall as crowds gathered at the pandal's entry and exit routes. Eyewitnesses alleged that improper crowd management and confusing announcements regarding the pandal's status contributed to the tragedy.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced a compensation of ₹25 lakh and a government job for the families of each deceased victim, along with ₹5 lakh for the injured. The state government intends to request the appointment of a sitting judge from the Calcutta High Court to oversee a Special Investigation Team probe into the incident. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also announced ex-gratia payments of ₹2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.
Kolkata Police have detained 12 individuals, including puja organizers and security staff, as part of an ongoing investigation into potential lapses in crowd control. The pandal has been closed to the public, and authorities are currently reviewing CCTV footage to determine the precise cause of the crush. Medical facilities at the Kolkata Medical College and Hospital are currently treating the survivors, though reports have surfaced regarding concerns over the availability of emergency resources.
