Kolkata: The death toll in the stampede at the Chor Bagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata has risen to 19, with at least 25 people injured. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced a Special Investigation Team (SIT), to be headed by a sitting judge of the Calcutta High Court, to investigate the tragedy.
The stampede occurred around 7.30 pm on Saturday, during Saptami celebrations, as heavy rain lashed the city and crowds gathered in a narrow lane near the popular puja venue. Two of those killed were from Muzaffarpur in Bihar. The chief minister said some families had lost more than one member in the incident. One of the injured is reportedly in critical condition.
According to Adhikari, 17 people were initially declared dead at Calcutta Medical College and Hospital. A child later died at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, while another woman succumbed while being taken to a private hospital.
The chief minister said the state government would provide a government job and financial assistance of ₹25 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased person. The injured will receive ₹5 lakh each, and the government will bear their medical expenses.
Seven people have been arrested in connection with the incident. Those arrested reportedly include representatives of the puja organising committee and members of the security agency and event management company.
Preliminary findings suggest that an announcement warning that the pandal might collapse may have triggered panic among devotees. Eyewitnesses said people rushed towards the venue to shelter from the rain, while others were reluctant to leave. As crowds pushed through the narrow entrance and exit, people slipped and fell over one another.
The puja committee had reportedly obtained the required permissions from Kolkata Police, the fire brigade and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation. However, the SIT will investigate possible lapses in crowd management and security arrangements.
Kolkata Police have seized CCTV footage from the pandal and surrounding areas. An FIR has been registered under Sections 105 and 110 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Adhikari said legal action would be taken against anyone found responsible, including volunteers, security personnel or officials, depending on the evidence.
Following the tragedy, the Chor Bagan pandal was shut down. Other crowded venues, including Chetla Agrani and Tala Prottoy, were also closed as a precaution.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was visiting Kolkata, cancelled his scheduled pandal visits and was expected to visit the injured in hospital on Sunday. The state government has also cancelled official Durga Puja programmes involving ministers and MLAs for the next few days.
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