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Suvendu Adhikari Orders Judge-Led Probe of Chorbagan Stampede

By Drooid · Oct 19, 2026, 4:50 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Adhikari Orders Probe

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari ordered a judge-led Special Investigation Team to probe the Chorbagan Durga Puja stampede.
The Oct 17, 2026 crush killed 19 people, injured 25, after heavy rain and a sudden lane surge.
Adhikari pledged Rs 25 lakh to each deceased family and a Group D job for a relative.
Police detained seven organizers for ten days and may scrap VIP gates while capping puja visitor numbers.

Summary

Shah Cancels Visit

Union Home Minister Amit Shah cancelled his West Bengal visit and postponed all scheduled programmes.
BJP MP Jatin Mahato said the government will investigate the incident thoroughly and monitor the situation.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge demanded immediate medical aid, compensation and a full probe.
Trinamool MLA Kunal Ghosh blamed administrative failure, citing poor crowd control and weak police presence.

Summary

Nand Bans Bowbazar

Commissioner Ajay Nand imposed a three-day ban on unlawful assemblies under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.
The ban covers Bowbazar bounded by College Street, CR Avenue, Collotola Street and Eden Hospital Road.
Police registered a suo moto case under Sections 105, 110 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Nine IPS officers were redeployed to Kolkata Police for crowd-control duties until October 20.

History

Historical Context

The 2013 Kumbh Mela stampede in Allahabad, which killed 36 pilgrims, shocked India and prompted nationwide safety reforms. Uttar Pradesh Police, the Kumbh Mela Organising Committee, and the National Disaster Management Authority allocated Rs 10 lakh per victim’s family and deployed 5,000 security personnel. Similarly, West Bengal’s 2026 Chorbagan Durga Puja crush, which left 19 dead and 25 injured, triggered a judge-led SIT, compensation promises, and police bans. These incidents underscore how Indian authorities, from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s 2013 directives to Amit Shah’s 2026 postponements, increasingly rely on legal mandates and financial aid to deter future tragedies.

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Adhikari Orders Probe

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari ordered a judge-led Special Investigation Team to probe the Chorbagan Durga Puja stampede.
The Oct 17, 2026 crush killed 19 people, injured 25, after heavy rain and a sudden lane surge.
Adhikari pledged Rs 25 lakh to each deceased family and a Group D job for a relative.
Police detained seven organizers for ten days and may scrap VIP gates while capping puja visitor numbers.

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