Leaders Express Grief Over Kolkata Stampede During Durga Puja, Blame Administrative Failures
Leaders across India mourn the loss of lives in a Kolkata stampede, attributing the tragedy to administrative failures during Durga Puja.
Kolkata, October 18 (Daily Kiran) : Leaders from across India have reacted with sorrow to the tragic stampede that occurred during Durga Puja celebrations in Kolkata. Reports indicate that 19 people lost their lives, and over 20 others sustained injuries in the incident.
Union Minister Tokhan Sahu expressed his deep condolences, stating, “It is heartbreaking to hear that 19 lives were lost in Kolkata, with more than 20 injured. Our thoughts are with the families of the deceased.” He added that he prays for the swift recovery of the injured. Sahu emphasized the importance of standing by victims during such tragic events and urged against politicizing the incident. West Bengal‘s Chief Minister has announced compensation for the victims’ families and has personally visited the injured to offer support.
Umesh Rai, a minister in the West Bengal government, discussed the causes of the stampede. He explained that the chaos erupted when a large crowd attempted to enter while others were still exiting the pandal. Rai attributed the incident to the negligence of both the event organizers and the security agency responsible for crowd control. He announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to thoroughly investigate the matter.
TMC leader and MLA Kunal Ghosh labeled the incident as a complete administrative failure. He insisted that the concerned puja committee should take responsibility, noting the involvement of several influential individuals. Ghosh mentioned, “We have been prioritizing relief efforts and treating the injured since last night. Our workers have been present at various locations, including Chorbagan.”
He clarified why he did not visit the hospital on Saturday night, stating, “If the leadership had arrived, it would have diverted media and police attention to other matters, hindering the treatment process. Therefore, our entire team was there, but I came to the hospital personally after receiving some updates.”
