Suvendu Adhikari Announces ₹5 Lakh Aid for Injured, ₹25 Lakh for Bereaved Families

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has confirmed that 19 people have died and 25 others have been injured in a stampede-like incident at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata.

According to the Chief Minister, most of the deceased are girls and children.
The incident reportedly occurred at around 7:30 PM on Saturday. Adhikari described the tragedy as deeply painful and said the state government was prioritising medical care for the injured and support for the bereaved families.

Of the 25 injured people, 24 are reportedly out of danger, while one remains in critical condition. The Chief Minister said the state government would bear the full cost of medical treatment for all the injured.

₹25 Lakh Compensation, Government Jobs for Bereaved Families

Announcing the initial relief measures, Adhikari said the state government would provide ₹25 lakh in compensation and a government job to a member of every family that lost a loved one in the incident.

Each injured person will receive ₹5 lakh in compensation, in addition to government-funded medical treatment.

The Chief Minister said he had personally met 10 bereaved families and was continuing to stand with the affected families alongside ministers, legislators, police officials and the Chief Secretary.

Investigation Underway, Pandal Sealed

Adhikari said the site of the incident had been sealed and that the forensic team, Special Task Force (STF) and fire brigade were conducting preliminary investigations.

He indicated that heavy rain may have contributed to the incident, while also pointing to possible shortcomings in the arrangements made by the puja committee inside the pandal. Kolkata Police are examining CCTV footage to establish the sequence of events.

The Chief Minister said legal action would be taken against anyone found responsible for negligence.

High Court Judge-Led Fact-Finding Committee

The state government will constitute a fact-finding committee under the leadership of a sitting judge of the Calcutta High Court, Adhikari announced. The government will take further action based on the committee's recommendations.

He also confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been informed about the incident. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is in Kolkata, is personally monitoring the situation, according to the Chief Minister. The programmes scheduled for the following day involving the Home Minister and the state government have been cancelled.

Safety Measures Across Bengal's Durga Puja Pandals

Highlighting the scale of the ongoing festivities, Adhikari said approximately 58,000 Durga Pujas are being held across West Bengal. The government is taking steps to prevent similar incidents at other pandals.

The tragedy has prompted an urgent focus on crowd management, safety arrangements and emergency preparedness at Durga Puja venues across the state, as authorities continue their investigation and provide assistance to the affected families.