Agencies | Kolkata:
Seven people, including office-bearers of the Chore Bagan Sarbojonin Durgotsab Samity, have been arrested in connection with the stampede during Durga Puja celebrations in Kolkata that claimed 19 lives and left 25 others injured.
The arrested persons include individuals associated with the organising committee, construction work, crowd management and security arrangements at the venue.
Those arrested include Raj Kumar Sewda, also known as Raja, 48, secretary of the organising committee, and Santanu Dubey, 55, its vice-president.
Biplab Mukherjee, also known as Joy, 48, was allegedly involved in constructing a bamboo structure for advertisements at the venue. Koushik Saha, 53, and Pintu Dey, 51, were allegedly responsible for crowd management and checking VIP passes, while Suman Chakraborty, 30, and Rajesh Pal, 29, were identified as security in-charges.
The death toll from the stampede has risen to 19, while 25 people sustained injuries. One of the injured remains in critical condition.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said on Sunday that the state government was taking all possible measures to support the bereaved families and ensure proper medical care for the injured.
The government has announced compensation 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 their medical expenses.
The state government has proposed setting up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the circumstances leading to the stampede.
Adhikari also said he would write to the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, seeking the formation of a fact-finding committee involving the Special Task Force (STF) and forensic teams.
The proposed investigation is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and the arrangements made for crowd management and public safety at the venue.
Adhikari said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had directed the state Chief Secretary to submit a detailed report on the incident.
According to the Chief Minister, the Prime Minister had also announced relief and compensation for the affected families, with the Centre and the state government working together to assist those affected.
Adhikari also criticised former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, referring to incidents during the 2025 Durga Puja season in which, according to him, 13 people died due to electrocution amid rainfall. He questioned whether Banerjee had visited the families affected by those incidents.
Meanwhile, Durga Puja organisers in Siliguri have strengthened crowd-management arrangements and safety measures following the Kolkata tragedy.
The measures include deploying additional volunteers and police personnel, making regular public announcements and ensuring smoother movement of devotees at pandals.
The steps are aimed at preventing overcrowding and improving visitor safety as celebrations continue.
