The death toll in the tragic stampede at a crowded Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata rose to 19, prompting the West Bengal government to announce compensation, government jobs for victims' families, and a high-level judicial inquiry into the crowd management failure.

The death toll in the tragic stampede at a crowded Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata rose to 19, prompting the West Bengal government to announce compensation, government jobs for victims' families, and a high-level judicial inquiry into the crowd management failure.

The death toll in the tragic stampede at a crowded Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata rose to 19, prompting the West Bengal government to announce compensation, government jobs for victims' families, and a high-level judicial inquiry into the crowd management failure.

The death toll in the stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata rose to 19, as West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari assured the bereaved families of government support and said all necessary steps were being taken to ensure proper treatment for the injured.

Speaking to reporters after visiting Chorbagan Sarbojanin, where the stampede occurred on Saturday evening, Adhikari said 25 people had been injured, one of whom remained in critical condition.

“The government is making every possible effort. We are working even through the night, and we have also announced compensation,” he said.

Adhikari announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 25 lakh and a government job for the family of each deceased person. Those injured will receive Rs 5 lakh each, while the state government will bear all medical expenses for the injured undergoing treatment.

The chief minister also announced that a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by a sitting judge of the Calcutta High Court, would investigate the incident. The team will include members of the Special Task Force (STF), Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and other departments.

Assuring strict action against those responsible for lapses in crowd management, Adhikari said no one would be spared, regardless of their position or affiliation.

“Those responsible could be a member of the puja committee, a home guard, a temporary worker, a policeman or a private security guard. Nobody will be spared,” he said.

Meanwhile, police have detained 12 people, including organisers of the Chorbagan Durga Puja celebrations, in connection with the incident.

“We have detained 12 people in connection with our probe into the Chorbagan incident. Our officers are questioning them to ascertain the cause of the mishap. If any lapses are found, we will act in accordance with the law,” a police officer told PTI.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who arrived in Kolkata on Saturday evening, also postponed his scheduled visits to Durga Puja pandals in the wake of the tragedy. He said he would visit those injured in the stampede and was expected to reach the medical college hospital at 11 am on Sunday.

The stampede occurred at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata on Saturday evening, the day of Maha Saptami, following a surge in the crowd amid rainfall.

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