Kolkata stampede: CM seeks HC judge-led probe, orders Durga Puja pandal safety checks

Kolkata: A high-powered committee headed by a sitting Calcutta High Court judge is likely to probe the stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal that claimed 19 lives, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said on Sunday.

Adhikari also said he would visit the residences of the families of the 18 deceased in the next two days, on October 20 and 21, to personally hand over compensation cheques of Rs 25 lakh each.

One of the deceased was from Bihar.


“The state chief secretary will write to the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court and, if he permits, a sitting judge will head the probe committee. Kolkata Police officials will not be part of the committee. A sitting judge will probe the incident, and the committee’s report will be made public once submitted,” Adhikari said.

Meanwhile, a high-powered committee comprising police and fire department officials, led by Director General Anuj Sharma, is inspecting prominent Durga Puja pandals across Kolkata to assess arrangements, including entry and exit points and fire safety measures.

The committee also includes state Fire Minister, fire brigade officials, Principal Secretary of the State Disaster Management Department Rajesh Kumar Singh and ADG STF Javed Shamim. Similar inspections will be carried out in all districts, the chief minister said.

At least 19 people were killed and 25 injured in the stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal on Muktarambabu Street in north Kolkata on Saturday evening.

Following the incident, Adhikari held a high-level meeting at the CID headquarters, Bhawani Bhawan, with Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal, state Home Secretary Sanghamitra Ghosh and other senior police officials.

After the meeting, the chief minister said he would personally visit the families of those who died and hand over the compensation cheques. He added that he would travel by helicopter to meet families living farther away. One of the deceased was from Bihar, and the body would be sent there in coordination with the protocol officer.