Chorbagan Tragedy: CM Adhikari Meets Victim's Family, Hands Over ₹25 Lakh
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari provides financial aid to a victim's family after the tragic Chorbagan Durga Puja stampede that killed 19.
In a gesture of support following one of the most heartbreaking incidents of the festive season, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited the family of Bikas Bhattacharya in Howrah. The visit comes in the aftermath of the devastating Chorbagan Durga Puja stampede, a tragedy that claimed 19 lives and left numerous others injured.
Financial Aid for the Bereaved
During his visit on Saturday, Chief Minister Adhikari personally handed over a cheque of Rs 25 lakhs to the family of the deceased. While acknowledging the immense pain of the loss, the Chief Minister stated that no amount of money could ever replace a loved one or truly compensate for such an irreplaceable loss.
He emphasized that it is the fundamental duty of the government to stand by the citizens and provide support to families during their darkest hours of grief, pledging that the state would continue to assist the victims in every possible way.
A High-Level Probe: The SIT Formed
The tragedy, which occurred on October 17 at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata, has sparked a massive investigation. On October 21, the West Bengal Government, acting in consultation with the Calcutta High Court, established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to get to the bottom of the disaster.
The SIT has been given a clear mandate: uncover the exact circumstances that led to the stampede and provide concrete recommendations to ensure such a catastrophe never happens again.
Who is Leading the Investigation?
The high-level probe committee is chaired by Justice (Rtd.) Anindita Roy Saraswati. To ensure a comprehensive analysis, the panel includes several top-tier officials and experts:
- The Principal Secretary of the Disaster Management & Civil Defence Department, Government of West Bengal.
- The Director General and Inspector General of Police for the Special Task Force (STF), West Bengal.
- A representative from the Director General and Inspector General of Police (not below the rank of Additional Director General).
- A representative from the Home and Hill Affairs Department (not below the rank of Joint Secretary).
- A representative from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) based in Kolkata.
Timeline for Justice
According to the official government notification, this is not a loose inquiry. The SIT is required to conduct a thorough and comprehensive review of the entire incident. The panel has been ordered to submit its final report to the state government within three months from the date the order was issued.