Kolkata Puja Pandal stampede: CM Adhikari slams Opposition for social media activism
Synopsis
Four days after a stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata killed 19 people, West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari visited a victim's family, handed over a compensation cheque, and trained his fire on the Opposition — accusing them of doing politics from behind a screen while leaving grieving families unvisited. A judicial probe panel has been constituted, but questions over crowd management accountability remain unanswered.
Key Takeaways
A stampede at Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja Pandal in North Kolkata on 17 October killed 19 people and injured 25 .
CM Suvendu Adhikari on 21 October visited victim Piu Samaddar's family to hand over a compensation cheque.
Adhikari accused all principal West Bengal Opposition leaders of restricting their response to social media, alleging no leader visited hospitals or grieving families.
ASHA workers have been deployed to support traumatised family members; talks with the District Magistrate are underway for job assistance.
A judicial probe panel has been constituted, with all relevant documents handed over for investigation.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, accused Opposition leaders in the state of confining their response to the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja Pandal stampede in North Kolkata entirely to social media, alleging that not a single leader visited victims or their families in the aftermath of the tragedy. The stampede, which struck on the night of 17 October, claimed 19 lives and left 25 people injured.
Chief Minister Visits Victim's Family
Adhikari reached the residence of Piu Samaddar, one of the deceased, to personally hand over a compensation cheque to her family members. He noted that Samaddar's mother has been in severe emotional trauma since learning of her daughter's death. 'I have specially instructed the state health department to look after Piu's mother and other family members,' he said. The Chief Minister added that ASHA workers have been assigned to provide regular support to grieving family members.
Government Outreach and Rehabilitation Measures
Beyond the compensation cheque, Adhikari said talks have been initiated with the District Magistrate regarding employment opportunities for the affected families. 'Necessary instructions have been given to provide jobs in the office of the local Block Development Officer,' he said, adding, 'We cannot bring back those who have lost their lives. But we are always with their family members.' This outreach signals a broader administrative effort to support bereaved households beyond immediate financial relief.
Opposition Accused of Political Point-Scoring
Speaking to reporters after the visit, Adhikari levelled pointed accusations at the principal Opposition parties. 'Not even one Opposition leader or worker went to the hospital to see those who were injured or died that day. No one stood by those who lost their loved ones. The Opposition leaders are only on social media,' he claimed. The remarks sharpen the political temperature in West Bengal, where the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Opposition parties — including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — have been locked in sustained rivalry. Notably, Adhikari himself is a BJP leader and former Leader of the Opposition, making his charge part of an ongoing political contest over accountability in the tragedy.
Judicial Probe Panel Constituted
On the question of accountability, the Chief Minister confirmed that a judicial probe panel has been constituted to investigate the circumstances of the stampede. 'All the necessary papers and documents related to the investigation had been handed over to the probe panel members. Now they will investigate the matter,' Adhikari said, declining to elaborate further at this stage. The formation of an independent judicial panel suggests the administration is seeking to insulate the probe from political interference, though critics will watch closely whether its findings are made public in a timely manner.
What Happened at Chorbagan on 17 October
The stampede occurred on the night of 17 October at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja Pandal, one of the prominent community pujas in North Kolkata. Large crowds gathering for Durga Puja celebrations are common across the city, and crowd management at pandals has historically posed challenges for local authorities. The tragedy, which killed 19 people and injured 25, is one of the deadliest stampede incidents during the festival season in recent memory in the state. The judicial probe is expected to examine crowd control arrangements, permissions, and emergency response protocols on the night.
Point of View
Killing 19 people? The formation of a judicial probe is a standard procedural response, but its credibility will depend entirely on whether it examines state-level permissions and police deployment — or becomes a vehicle for deflection. The ruling TMC, which governs the state, bears primary administrative responsibility; the BJP's Adhikari, as Chief Minister, faces pressure to ensure the probe delivers accountability rather than a political verdict. Visiting a victim's family and deploying ASHA workers are humanising gestures, but they cannot substitute for a transparent account of what went wrong on the night of 17 October.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Kolkata Durga Puja pandal stampede?
A stampede occurred on the night of 17 October at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja Pandal in North Kolkata, killing 19 people and injuring 25. The incident took place during Durga Puja celebrations, when large crowds had gathered at the pandal.
What did CM Suvendu Adhikari do after the stampede?
CM Adhikari visited the residence of victim Piu Samaddar on 21 October to hand over a compensation cheque to her family. He also announced that ASHA workers have been deployed to support grieving families and that talks are underway for employment assistance through the local Block Development Officer's office.
Why did CM Adhikari criticise the Opposition over the stampede?
Adhikari alleged that not a single Opposition leader or worker visited injured survivors in hospital or stood by families of those killed, claiming they limited their response to social media posts. He accused them of doing politics over the tragedy.
Is there an investigation into the Kolkata stampede?
Yes, a judicial probe panel has been constituted to investigate the stampede. According to CM Adhikari, all relevant documents and papers have been handed over to the panel for examination.
Who was Piu Samaddar?
Piu Samaddar was one of the 19 people who died in the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja Pandal stampede on 17 October in North Kolkata. CM Adhikari visited her family on 21 October and noted that her mother has been in a state of severe trauma since learning of her daughter's death.
