Kolkata stampede: TMC MP Mahua Moitra targets BJP over security arrangements

The city of joy was plunged into chaos and despair as a tragic incident of stampede at a prominent Durga Puja Pandal in North Kolkata claimed at least 19 lives, including women and minors, and injured 25 others on October 17. The incident that took place at Shorbhagan Sarbojan in Durga Puja Pandal last night cast a shadow over Durga Puja celebrations in Kolkata. What began as a celebration of faith and festivity turned into a nightmare, raising serious questions over crowd management and safety arrangements. Those injured in the stampede were initially pushed to Calcutta Medical College and Hospital for treatment, while some were later shifted to Apollo Hospital for further care. Reports point to heavy rain and a sudden surge of visitors as possible factors behind the stampede. Some reports suggest an announcement made inside the Pandal may have also led to the sudden swell. Police have launched an investigation. Seven people linked to the organization and security of the event have been arrested and produced before a local court. Union Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited Apollo Hospital to meet the injured and take a stock of their condition. According to the hospital authorities, 14 stampede victims were admitted to Apollo, with 12 reportedly in stable condition. The West Bengal government announced compensation of 25 lakh rupees and a government job for the family of each deceased person. Earlier, Prime Minister Modi had announced an ex-gratia of 2 lakh from PMNRF to next of kin of each of those who lost their lives. The tragedy at the Shorbhagan Sarbojan in Durga Puja Pandal has left families grappling with an irreparable loss. Speaking to reporters, West Bengal Health Minister Sarvajat Mukherjee said that post-mortem examinations had been completed on more than half of the 19 people killed in a stampede. Bodies are also being handed over to their grieving families for the final rites. He further said all 25 injured people were in stable condition. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said he would visit and inspect traffic management at the Lal Bazaar Traffic Police Control Office to strengthen crowd and traffic control measures to avert such tragedies in the future. The incident quickly escalated into a political flashpoint as the ministers of opposition, Trinamool Congress, accused the authorities of maladministration. They blamed arrangements behind the deadly stampedes. Now, TMC MP Mahua Moitra slammed the BJP-led government in West Bengal. She criticized that the administration over crowd control and traffic measures. I have never seen these types of incidents. This is because of by reason of the maladministration, total maladministration. You have seen that the within the premises of Mandap, there was less illuminations were there. And the way it has been made chit-chat way, so that so many much, not much people crowd will be outside. Now, Naviyansh Agarwal spoke to BJP MLA Sajal Ghosh to understand what really happened on the fated night. Listen in. I'm right outside Kolkata Police Morgue and I'm currently joined by BJP's Sajal Ghosh. Sir, thank you for speaking to Vion. We are seeing an unprecedented situation happening in Kolkata during the auspicious time of Durga Pujo. A stampede killing 19 people, sir. This is not a joke. Was there a lack of management and administrative failure? Time to discuss about the lack, faults, all those things. First of all, we should try to solve all these current problems, the rituals and the last rites, smoothly and fairly. Then there is a lot of times, the issue will come to light, we will also find out, you will also find out, what is the cause, what is the cause behind it. Maybe there is a fault from the organizer, maybe there is a fault from the administration, Maybe it's because it's rain falls. It rains every year during Durga Pooja, sir. It rains every year during Durga Pooja. We see overcrowding every year during Durga Pooja, sir. Every year, you never face this one. Every year, there is a lot of complaints against police, against the organizer, everywhere. Because today's world is organized by the mainly YouTubers, Facebook, bloggers. He will say something in your support, and some people will say something against him. And everybody is doing that for their business only.