Durga Puja pandal stampede: Death toll rises to 19; Rs 25 lakh compensation for victims' families

KOLKATA: The death toll in the stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata has risen to 19. Around 35 people were injured, several of them reportedly in critical condition. The accident occurred at Chor Bagan in Kolkata on Saturday night.

The West Bengal government has announced a compensation of Rs 25 lakh for the families of those who died and Rs 5 lakh each for the injured. The government will also bear the entire medical expenses of the injured. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited the hospital on Saturday night and met those undergoing treatment.

The accident occurred around 7:40 PM on Saturday. More than a hundred people had gathered for the puja rituals. As heavy rain started, people rushed en masse into the pandal. In the meantime, a section of the exit gate collapsed, causing a stampede as people panicked and ran outside, leading to a major tragedy. The puja pandal has been closed following the accident.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal visited the medical college to assess the situation. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is in Kolkata, also visited the site and met the injured. Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed shock over the incident. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the deaths and announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each for those injured.

Narrow entrance

The narrow entrance to the puja pandal is believed to have worsened the tragedy. There was also inadequate lighting at the site. Local residents alleged that the organisers prevented people from entering the site after the accident. Eyewitnesses said several people fainted in the stampede and some of the injured were taken to hospitals on motorcycles.