West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced a compensation package for the families of those who died in a stampede during the Durga Puja celebrations in Kolkata. Each family of the deceased will receive Rs 25 lakh, along with a government job. Additionally, the state government will cover the full medical expenses for the injured, providing Rs 5 lakh to each of them. Adhikari described the incident as tragic, confirming that nineteen individuals lost their lives, with seventeen dying at the scene. A total of twenty-five people sustained injuries, with twenty-four reported to be out of danger while one remains in critical condition.

The chief minister expressed the government’s commitment to assist the affected families and stated that he had met with relatives of the deceased. He emphasised that appropriate measures would be taken against those responsible for managing the crowd during the event.

In light of the incident, Adhikari announced the formation of a fact-finding committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the stampede. This committee will include members from the Special Task Force (STF) and forensic teams to ensure a thorough examination of the events leading up to the tragedy.

Investigation into Crowd Management Failures

Adhikari confirmed that the Kolkata Police’s Anti-Rowdy Section (ARS) has collected CCTV footage from the scene to aid in the investigation. He stated that the footage would be reviewed to identify any failures in crowd management. Responsibility could potentially lie with various individuals, including members of the puja committee, home guards, temporary workers, police officers, or private security personnel. Adhikari assured that no one would be exempt from accountability.

The chief minister also mentioned that arrangements for post-mortems were being made in accordance with legal requirements, and six of the deceased had already been identified. Officials are working closely with the families of the victims to provide necessary support during this difficult time.

In response to the incident, the Prime Minister’s Office has requested a report from the chief secretary, which has been submitted. Both the central and state governments are collaborating to provide assistance to those affected by the tragedy.

Reactions and Political Context

Adhikari addressed attempts by some individuals to politicise the incident, asserting that the public is aware of the previous government’s handling of similar tragedies. He stated that families of the deceased have expressed their trust in the current administration. The chief minister highlighted past incidents, including a tragic electrocution during the 2025 Puja season that resulted in thirteen fatalities and a flood in north Bengal that claimed one hundred lives, questioning the previous government’s response to such events.

The stampede occurred on Saturday evening, 17 October 2026, during the Maha Saptami celebrations at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal. Reports indicate that heavy rain prompted a rush among the crowd, leading to a surge that resulted in the tragic incident. Adhikari noted that an announcement made by the puja organisers contributed to the chaos, which he described as a painful occurrence.

In the aftermath, officials have detained members of the organising club, private security guards, and personnel on duty for questioning. The administration has also advised several other crowded theme-based puja pandals to temporarily close as a precautionary measure. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was in Kolkata, cancelled his scheduled visits to pandals following the incident. Condolences have been expressed by President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, with PM Modi announcing an ex gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh for the families of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

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