📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Joseph Austin Benwell
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19 Dead in Kolkata Stampede; CM Suvendu Announces Jobs and ₹25 Lakh for Victims' Families
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 19 Oct 2026, 01:16 AM
👁 29
A sudden stampede in Kolkata claimed 19 lives, prompting Chief Minister Suvendu to promise employment for the victims and a cash relief of ₹25 lakh for their next of kin.
A crowd surge at a public event in Kolkata turned deadly on Thursday, leaving 19 people dead and several others injured, according to local authorities. The incident occurred when a large gathering attempted to move through a narrow passage, causing panic and a crush that resulted in multiple fatalities.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu addressed the tragedy in a press conference later that day, expressing deep sorrow for the loss of life. He announced that the state government would provide immediate financial assistance of ₹25 lakh to the families of each deceased victim.
In addition to the cash relief, the CM pledged to allocate government jobs to the kin of those killed, aiming to offer long‑term support to the affected families. He also ordered a thorough inquiry into the circumstances that led to the stampede, urging relevant agencies to identify any lapses in crowd management and safety protocols.
The administration has deployed medical teams and rescue personnel to the site, and officials are working to identify all victims. Police have begun registering FIRs and are coordinating with local hospitals to treat the injured.
The tragedy has sparked calls for stricter crowd‑control measures at public gatherings across the state, with civil society groups urging authorities to review existing safety guidelines to prevent similar incidents in the future.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu addressed the tragedy in a press conference later that day, expressing deep sorrow for the loss of life. He announced that the state government would provide immediate financial assistance of ₹25 lakh to the families of each deceased victim.
In addition to the cash relief, the CM pledged to allocate government jobs to the kin of those killed, aiming to offer long‑term support to the affected families. He also ordered a thorough inquiry into the circumstances that led to the stampede, urging relevant agencies to identify any lapses in crowd management and safety protocols.
The administration has deployed medical teams and rescue personnel to the site, and officials are working to identify all victims. Police have begun registering FIRs and are coordinating with local hospitals to treat the injured.
The tragedy has sparked calls for stricter crowd‑control measures at public gatherings across the state, with civil society groups urging authorities to review existing safety guidelines to prevent similar incidents in the future.