Kolkata Tragedy: Chief Minister to Meet Victims Families and Distribute Compensation Checks
West Bengals Chief Minister to meet families of victims from the Kolkata stampede, offering compensation checks on October 20 and 21.
Kolkata, October 18 (Daily Kiran) : West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on Sunday that he will meet with the families of those who lost their lives in the recent stampede at a Durga Puja pandal. The meetings are scheduled for October 20 and 21, during which he will distribute compensation checks.
During a high-level meeting at Bhawanipur, the Chief Minister revealed that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) will be formed to examine the incident. Notably, personnel from the Kolkata Police, Kolkata Municipal Corporation, and the state fire service will not be included in this investigation. He confirmed that among the deceased, one was a resident of Bihar.
Adhikari stated, “One of the victims was from Bihar. The process of returning the bodies to their families has begun. Two injured individuals remain in the ICU with fractures, while the other 23 injured have been declared fit for discharge.” He emphasized his commitment to personally meet each family within two days to hand over the compensation checks.
The Chief Minister stressed the importance of ensuring safety during such large gatherings, especially given West Bengal’s population of over 10 million celebrating Durga Puja. He noted that a review of administrative lapses has taken place, highlighting that 18 of the 19 victims were residents of West Bengal.
To support the families during the funeral arrangements, a team consisting of a civil administration officer, a police officer, and a local legislator will be present until the last rites are completed.
Regarding the organization of the Durga Puja pandal, Adhikari mentioned that volunteers were recruited for the 2024-25 season, and the administration used a list from previous years without onboarding new personnel. He stated that an investigation into this list is necessary, cautioning against assigning blame without a thorough examination of the facts.
He explained that the chaos ensued after ropes meant to manage crowds were released following rainfall, leading to a collapse of part of the exit structure. This caused a stampede as people rushed to exit the pandal.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, police have arrested seven individuals, including event organizers, under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code. The state governor and the Union Home Minister visited hospitals to assess the situation. Adhikari is personally overseeing the response with the help of key officials, including the chief secretary and police commissioner.
He assured that the government is actively addressing the situation, stating, “We are neither on holiday nor making social media posts. There are no statements blaming others in the press.”
Additionally, a Special Investigation Team will be established, led by a sitting judge, with the chief secretary set to write to the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court for approval. The SIT will be formed as soon as permission is granted.
On October 26, during the Vijay Sammilani event, the government plans to pay tribute to the 19 victims and provide checks of five lakh rupees each to the families of the 25 injured.
Earlier on Sunday, police apprehended seven people in connection with the stampede at the Chorabagan public Durga Puja pandal, where the tragedy unfolded due to a massive influx of devotees trying to glimpse the deities. A portion of the exit structure collapsed, resulting in chaos.
The injured were swiftly transported to Calcutta Medical College and two other government hospitals, where approximately 17 were declared dead upon arrival. By Sunday, the death toll had risen to 19.
