President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday expressed grief over the deaths in a stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata, extending condolences to the bereaved families and wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the next of kin of each person who died. Those injured will receive Rs 50,000 each. He also announced that he would postpone all his scheduled programmes in the state on Sunday, October 18, to visit the injured in hospital.
In a post on social media, President Murmu said the news of the deaths was heartbreaking. I pray for the swift recovery of those who have been injured,” she said. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said he had spoken to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari about the incident.
“The news of the deaths of people in a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata is extremely heartbreaking. I express my deepest condolences to all the bereaved families.
Congress Questions Police Response
The West Bengal Government is providing all possible help to the affected families,” the Prime Minister said. West Bengal Minister Nisith Pramanik described the incident as a “pandal collapse” and said the state government was working to ensure prompt medical care and immediate relief for those affected. West Bengal Congress president Subhankar Sarkar said the Congress party would extend full cooperation to the state government, adding that party volunteers were helping in efforts to save lives. Furthermore, there was no response even after calls were made to the control room at Lalbazar,” Sarkar said.
“The stampede in Kolkata is saddening. Condolences to the bereaved families. Wishing the injured a speedy recovery. However, he questioned the police response during the incident and alleged that calls to the control room at Lalbazar had gone unanswered. “We, the entire Congress party, have made a decision to extend our full cooperation to the government. Our volunteers are actively engaged in efforts to save lives. Where was the police when the actual incident took place?
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