Kolkata Pandal Stampede Kills 19; Amit Shah to Visit Injured in Hospital

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit the injured in a Kolkata hospital on Sunday, following a stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata that killed 19 people and injured 25.

Shah said he had received “extremely distressing” news of multiple casualties and had spoken to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari about it. He prayed for the souls of the dead and extended his condolences to the bereaved families.

The administration, he said, was arranging the best possible medical treatment for the injured, and he was postponing all his scheduled programmes in West Bengal to see them in hospital.

“I pray to Ma Durga that all the injured individuals recover swiftly,” he wrote on X.

KOLKATA STAMPEDE TOLL

A massive rush of devotees at the pandal led to the stampede amid heavy crowds. Adhikari said 19 people had died, 17 of them on the spot. Of the 25 injured, he said, 24 are out of danger and one remains in critical condition.

The injured were admitted to Medical College and Hospital. Adhikari said the government was working through the night and doing everything it could to help the families and ensure proper treatment.

COMPENSATION AND A PROBE

The state government has announced compensation of Rs 25 lakh and a job for a member of each victim’s family. A Special Task Force (STF) investigation has begun to fix accountability.

The Chief Minister, along with the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Director General of Police and the Police Commissioner, is monitoring the situation. A helpline, 1800 345 5678, has been issued for assistance.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also expressed grief. “Deeply pained by the stampede in Kolkata,” he wrote on X, offering condolences to the families and prayers for the injured.

PROHIBITORY ORDERS

Kolkata Police have imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, for three days, from October 18 to October 20.

Issued by Police Commissioner Ajay Nand, the order covers areas under the Bowbazar Police Station, bounded by College Street, Central Avenue, Colootola Street and Eden Hospital Road.

It bans unlawful assemblies of five or more people, the carrying of lathis, lethal or other dangerous weapons, and any act likely to disturb public peace in the zone.

The order was issued over concerns about possible violent demonstrations, rallies and meetings that could affect public order and safety, and it will remain in force for three days or until further orders.

With inputs from ANI