Chorabagan Tragedy: CM Suvendu Adhikari Visits Families, Hands Over Aid
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari provides financial aid to families of the 19 people killed in the Chorabagan Durga Puja pandal stampede.
In a gesture of support following one of the most tragic incidents of the festive season, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday visited the family of Kalpana Jana, one of the victims of the devastating Chorabagan Durga Puja stampede. The Chief Minister provided financial assistance to the grieving family as part of a broader effort to support those affected by the disaster that claimed 19 lives.
Completing the Circuit of Grief
Speaking to the media after his meeting with Jana's family, Chief Minister Adhikari revealed that he has now completed visits to the homes of all 17 victims residing within West Bengal. The tragedy, which struck on October 17 at the Chorabagan Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata, left a trail of devastation across the state.
Addressing the families from other regions, the Chief Minister noted that two of the victims hailed from Muzaffarpur, Bihar. To ensure they receive the same support, Adhikari announced that he is sending Umesh Rai, a Minister of State in the West Bengal government, to Bihar with the necessary compensation funds.
Direct Support to the Bereaved
The Chief Minister's outreach extended to Howrah, where he visited the family of another victim, Bikas Bhattacharya. During this visit, he handed over a cheque of Rs 25 lakh as financial assistance to the family.
"The government has a responsibility to stand by the bereaved families during their difficult time," Adhikari stated, while acknowledging that no amount of financial aid could ever truly compensate for the irreplaceable loss of a loved one.
He further assured the families that the state government would remain committed to supporting them in every possible way as they navigate the aftermath of the tragedy.
The Investigation: Seeking Answers
The horrific stampede has sparked intense debate and concern regarding crowd management and public safety during large-scale religious gatherings. In response, the West Bengal government, in consultation with the Calcutta High Court, took decisive action on October 21 by forming a Special Investigation Team (SIT).
Who is Leading the Probe?
The high-level committee is chaired by Justice (Retd.) Anindita Roy Saraswati. To ensure a comprehensive technical and administrative review, the panel includes several high-ranking officials:
- The Principal Secretary of the Disaster Management and Civil Defence Department.
- The Director General and Inspector General of Police for the Special Task Force (STF), West Bengal.
- A representative of the DG and IG 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.
The Goal of the SIT
The SIT has been tasked with a detailed examination of the circumstances that led to the loss of 19 lives. Beyond establishing the facts of the incident, the committee is expected to recommend stringent measures to strengthen crowd control and public safety to prevent such a catastrophe from recurring. According to the official government notification, the SIT must submit its final report to the state government within three months.