The stampede incident at the Durga Puja festival in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, resulted in the deaths of 17 people. The incident occurred on Saturday, October 17, 2023, during heavy rainfall and a crowd surge at Sara Park (Chor Bagan). According to police reports, the incident took place at 7:40 PM, and 25 others were injured as a result.
Details of the incident and officials' response
Following the incident, police arrested 12 individuals, including festival organizers. Suvendu Adhikari, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, has stated that strict actions will be taken against those who failed to ensure crowd safety. He also added, "If any negligence is found, we will act according to the law." This incident occurred while the West Bengal government was under pressure to successfully conduct the year's most significant festival.
Independent investigations and social consequences
The West Bengal government has announced that an independent investigation led by a judge from the High Court will be initiated to examine this incident. Adhikari also stated, "We will review the recorded footage of the event and take necessary actions against anyone who was unable to manage the crowd." This includes members of the festival committee, security personnel, and even the police.
Stampede incidents at religious and cultural festivals in India are usually common, and Adhikari's government is under pressure to ensure the success of this festival. The Durga Puja festival is one of the largest festivals of the year in India, attracting thousands of visitors to witness the worship of the goddess Durga in temporary structures known as pandals.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as "very heartbreaking" and announced that temporary compensation would be provided to the families of the victims. This comes as the festival season in India begins with challenges such as food and fuel inflation and below-average rainfall.
Amit Shah, the Indian Home Minister, is also expected to visit the victims and their families on Sunday. He arrived in Kolkata last night, but his festival plans were postponed due to this incident.
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