Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari Leads Response After Kolkata Durga Puja Stampede

The devastating stampede at the Choorbagan Sarvajanin Durga Puja pandal on October 17 left 17 people dead and 25 hurt. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari voiced his anguish and chaired an emergency session at Kolkata Medical College, joined by Chief Secretary Manoj Agrawal and senior bureaucrats. He outlined the government's immediate actions: offering assistance to the victims' families, guaranteeing medical attention for the injured, and demanding tighter cooperation between puja committees and law enforcement. The CM highlighted the need for well-lit, safely accessible pandals and urged the set‑up of clearly marked exit routes. A scheduled event with the Home Minister was cancelled to prioritize public welfare. An investigative team will assess the incident, with police instructed to detain private security and organizers for questioning. A forensic examination will follow, and media outlets were asked not to tamper with on‑site evidence.