KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday confirmed that 17 people had died and 25 others were injured in a stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata.
He assured that all necessary support would be extended to the affected families and that the investigation into the incident would be conducted transparently. A forensic team has arrived at the site, while members of the puja committee and security personnel, including police officers and private security staff, are being questioned in connection with the incident.
Efforts are also underway to ensure proper medical treatment for the injured. The Chief Minister further announced that all events scheduled for Sunday had been cancelled in view of the tragedy.
“In this incident, as of now, 17 people have lost their lives, and 25 people have been injured, among whom 1 or 2 are in critical condition. We are all arranging for proper medical treatment,” he said.
Sharing preliminary information about the circumstances leading to the stampede, Adhikari said, “Initial input from the ACP who was present on the spot says that this thing was triggered after an announcement by a private security agency and the blowing of some whistles,” he added.
Adhikari assured that the affected families would receive all necessary assistance and that the investigation would be conducted in a fair and transparent manner.
“As a Chief Minister I can’t give a statement before the investigation is over, but I assure that proper investigation will be done with full transparency. The puja committee members and the security agencies have been detained. All kind of support will be provided to all families. This is a very very sad incident,” he said.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Minister Umesh Rai appealed to people to refrain from politicising the tragedy and instead focus on providing humanitarian assistance to the injured and the families of those who lost their lives.
(ANI)
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