News Desk: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced a Special Investigation Team (SIT), to be headed by a sitting Calcutta High Court judge, to investigate the deadly stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata. At least 19 people died and 25 others were injured in the incident on Saturday evening, October 17.
The stampede occurred on Maha Saptami amid heavy crowds and rain. The chief minister said the state government would write to the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court to nominate a sitting judge to lead the investigation. The SIT will include officials from the Special Task Force (STF), the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and other departments.
Adhikari announced compensation of ₹25 lakh and a Group D government job for the family of each person who died. Those injured will receive ₹5 lakh each, while the state government will bear their full medical expenses at a hospital of their choice.
The chief minister said CCTV footage was being examined to establish the sequence of events and identify those responsible for any lapses in crowd management. He warned that action would be taken against anyone found responsible, including puja committee members, police personnel, homeguards, temporary workers and private security guards.
Police officials said a sudden rush began when rain started, causing people to fall and triggering the stampede. Adhikari also pointed to an announcement made by the organisers as a possible factor behind the sudden surge in the crowd. The exact sequence of events and responsibility for the tragedy are yet to be established.
Kolkata Police has collected CCTV footage as part of the investigation. Some puja committee members, private security guards and personnel on duty have reportedly been detained.
Following the tragedy, authorities advised popular theme-based Durga Puja pandals to temporarily close to prevent further overcrowding. Kolkata has around 3,500 puja pandals.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the deaths and announced financial assistance of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of each deceased person. The injured will receive ₹50,000 each.
Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, President Droupadi Murmu and Governor RN Ravi also expressed condolences. Union Home Minister Amit Shah postponed his scheduled programmes and said he would visit the injured.
The state government has issued a toll-free helpline, 1800-345-5678, while the Kolkata Police control room can be reached at 033-2214-1310.
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