West Bengal Chief Minister Meets Stampede Victims' Families With Compensation

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited the families of victims who died in a stampede at a Kolkata Durga Puja pandal. The tragedy occurred on October 17 and claimed 19 lives during the first Durga Puja organized by the BJP government.

Relief Measures

Mr. Adhikari travelled across Purba Bardhaman, Howrah, Nadia, and Hooghly districts to meet bereaved relatives and express his condolences. He handed over a cheque of ₹25 lakh to the relatives of the deceased and assured a government job for one person in every family. In Purba Bardhaman, he met the relatives of 37-year-old Togor Bej and 14-year-old Sandip Bej. He also visited the families of Piyali Pramanik in Hooghly, Aarti Sarkar in Nadia, and Akriti Raut in Howrah.

Investigation And Actions

Seven persons have been arrested in connection with the disaster and booked under several sections, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The State government ordered an inquiry by a sitting judge of the Calcutta High Court. Meanwhile, the government skipped celebrations this season and limited itself to Durga Puja rituals due to the tragedy.

Context

Crowd control and safety management during major religious festivals remain critical challenges for large public gatherings across India. High visitor numbers at popular pandals often strain local administrative arrangements, leading to tragic accidents when safety protocols fail.