Kolkata Chorbagan Stampede: TMC Questions BJP Leaders Links to Durga Puja Committee
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
At least 17 people were reported dead and several others injured in a stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata on October 17. The incident has sparked a political controversy, with the Trinamool Congress (TMC) questioning the links of some Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders to the puja committee. The tragedy has also raised serious concerns about crowd management and safety arrangements at the venue.
TMC Questions BJP Leaders’ Role in Puja Committee
The TMC has reportedly raised questions about the reported involvement of BJP leaders in organising the Durga Puja event. According to reports, BJP MLA Bijay Ojha is the chairman of the Chorbagan puja committee, while Debadeep Adhikari, nephew of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, is a prominent organiser. Tamaghno Ghosh, the BJP’s North Kolkata district president, is also reportedly associated with the event.
The TMC questioned who should be held accountable for the deaths and raised concerns about the responsibility of those linked to the puja committee. However, these political allegations do not establish that the leaders were responsible for the stampede.
Probe Ordered After Stampede, Organisers Detained
The stampede reportedly took place around 7.40 pm as large crowds gathered at the pandal amid heavy rain. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said preliminary information suggested that an announcement by a private security agency and the blowing of whistles may have triggered panic among visitors.
Following the incident, the pandal was closed, and members of the puja committee and personnel linked to the private security agency were detained for questioning. Authorities are reportedly expected to investigate the events leading to the stampede, including crowd control and the arrangements for entry and exit.
The incident has raised questions about the safety measures in place at the crowded festival venue. The investigation will seek to establish what caused the stampede and whether there were any lapses in crowd management.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced financial assistance of ₹2 lakh for the families of each person who died and ₹50,000 for each injured person through the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
