Kolkata pandal stampede: At least seven persons arrested in connection with the Chorebagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja Pandal

Kolkata: At least seven persons were arrested out of the 14 detained, including organizers, volunteers, in connection with the stampede at the Chorebagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja Pandal in Kolkata, which claimed 19 lives. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accompanied by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, visited the injured persons who have been hospitalized.

West Bengal Governor R N Ravi also visited the injured persons in the hospital today morning.

"Altogether three have been admitted in HDU, one in ICU, who is critical, while the rest are admitted in normal rooms. Shah visited the injured but not in the ICU. There is an immense trauma of the patients," a senior doctor, who briefed Shah, said. Altogether 14 injured are presently admitted and treated in a leading private hospital Apollo Hospitals.


“I saw many people losing consciousness. Some sat in my house. The incident happened inside the pandal. There was no crowd management inside the pandal. There was not much police but some volunteers only. Police were outside the pandal. Police force came after one hour. Police took people in the ambulance,” an eye witness, whose residence is beside the pandal near the exit gate of the pandal, said.

“I came to the pandal with my mother. There was a massive stampede and I lost my mother. I could not breathe,” said another pandal hopper, who lost his elderly mother.

Section 163 has been imposed in the Chorbagan area following the incident last night. A forensic team arrived at the site of the stampede — Muktarambabu Street in North Kolkata — on Sunday. At least 25 injured are underwent treatment at state hospitals initially.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited the puja pandal at around 1AM and conducted inspection, along with Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal, and senior police officials, after meeting the families of the deceased and injured at Calcutta Medical College and Hospital.

He announced that his government will provide Rs 25 lakh and a government job for the family of each deceased. He also announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident.

Adhikari announced Rs 25 lakh compensation to close kin of the dead while Rs 5 lakh will also be given to each injured person, and the entire treatment cost at any hospital of their choice will be borne by the government. An SIT headed by a sitting judge of the Calcutta High Court will investigate the incident. The SIT will comprise members from STF, CID and other departments,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of each of those who lost their lives in the stampede. PM Modi said on X that the stampede in Kolkata was saddening, and also offered condolences to the bereaved families.

President Droupadi Murmu also expressed condolence over the deaths, calling the news of the deaths extremely heartbreaking.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, and all ministers and MLAs cancelled all his Durga Puja-related engagements on Sunday.

“Deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic stampede at the Chorbagan Puja pandal at North Kolkata today. My heartfelt condolences go out to the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones in this devastating incident. The Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, DGP, CP & Senior Officials are with me, we are continuously monitoring the situation. Cabinet Colleagues and Rajya Sabha MP Shri Samik Bhattacharya accompanied me when I personally visited the injured at the Hospital,” Chief Minister posted in his X Handle last night.

“We are continuously taking stock of ground operations. Our immediate priority is providing immediate medical care to the injured and extending every possible support and assistance to the affected families. As per reports, 17 individuals have tragically lost their lives, and 25 people are currently undergoing treatment. One person remains in critical condition under close observation. The State Government has announced Rs. 25 lakhs and Govt Jobs as compensation for the victims' families and we will be taking steps for constituting a STF under a Sitting Judge for fair investigation. Praying for the swift and complete recovery of all those injured. The Emergency Toll-Free Helpline number: 1800 345 5678 has been activated for People in distress.

A large number of devotees were injured following a stampede at the Chorebagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata as an excessive crowd flocked into the pandal arena to catch a glimpse of the idols.