Kolkata, October 18, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday said that 19 people had died in a stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin community Durga Puja pandal on Muktarambabu Street in north Kolkata, with 17 of them dying at the spot.
The Chief Minister said 25 people were injured in the incident, of whom 24 were out of danger, while one remained in critical condition.
Speaking to reporters, Adhikari said the state government would provide compensation of Rs 2.5 lakh and a government job to a member of each family that lost someone in the tragedy. He added that the government would bear the full medical expenses of the injured and provide them an additional Rs 5 lakh in compensation.
“Compensation has been declared for the 19 families who lost someone. Out of those, I held one-on-one meetings with 13 families. I assured them that the government stands with them and will support them, and they also expressed faith in the government,” Adhikari said.
He urged Durga Puja organisers across West Bengal to strengthen safety arrangements in view of the tragedy.
“Across the entire state, 58,000 Pujas are taking place. In light of this incident, everyone should exercise caution and take necessary precautions. Crowd control should be maintained, and the directions from the fire brigade and police regarding adequate lighting, entry-exit points, and overall safety must be fully followed so everyone can cooperate,” he said.
Tension broke out among visitors at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal on Saturday after a portion of the exit-gate structure collapsed amid a heavy crowd.
Adhikari, accompanied by the BJP state president and party Rajya Sabha members, visited Calcutta Medical College and Hospital to enquire about the condition of those admitted following the stampede.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the next of kin of each person who died in the incident.
In a post on X, Modi described the stampede as saddening, expressed condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured a speedy recovery. He also said the West Bengal government was providing all possible assistance to those affected.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a separate post on X that the injured would receive Rs 50,000 each from the PMNRF.
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