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.
I pray for the peace of the souls of those who have lost their lives in this tragic accident and extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved family members,” Shah said. “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. “I have just received the extremely distressing news of multiple casualties after the stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal. I have spoken with Chief Minister Shri Suvendu Adhikari about this matter.
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.
Congress Questions Police Response
“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.
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.
