Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the stampede in Kolkata is extremely distressing and announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.
At least 10 people are feared dead in a stampede following a crowd surge at a community Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata on Saturday evening.
“The stampede in Kolkata is extremely distressing. My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest,” Modi said in a post on X.
The prime minister said the local administration is providing all possible assistance to those affected.
Modi announced that an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh will be given from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund to the next of kin of each of those who lost their lives and ₹50,000 to each injured person.
Shah cancels scheduled programmes in Bengal
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has his programmes in West Bengal scheduled for Sunday in the wake of a stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata.
He will visit the hospital to meet the injured on Sunday.
In a message posted on X, Shah said,”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.”
He prayed for the peace of the departed souls and extended deepest condolences to the bereaved families.
Shah said the administration is making arrangements to ensure best possible medical treatment for the injured.
“I am postponing all my scheduled programs in West Bengal tomorrow to visit the injured in the hospital. I pray to Ma Durga that all the injured individuals recover swiftly,” he wrote.
