Kolkata Stampede | Kolkata, Oct. 18: President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences following the Kolkata stampede that reportedly claimed 19 lives at a Durga Puja pandal. Modi announced financial assistance of Rs. 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 for each injured person.
The President said she was deeply disturbed by the tragedy and extended her condolences to the bereaved families. She also wished those injured a speedy recovery.
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Prime Minister Modi expressed grief over the incident and said the affected families would receive the necessary assistance. Former West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee also expressed shock and conveyed her sympathies to the victims’ families.
The stampede in Kolkata is saddening. Condolences to the bereaved families. Wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
The West Bengal Government is providing all possible help to the affected families.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 17, 2026
The TMC blamed alleged mismanagement and inadequate arrangements for the heavy crowd at the Durga Puja pandal. It also questioned the security arrangements and demanded accountability for the deaths. The party alleged that the puja committee was headed by a BJP MLA and had close links to the state’s political leadership.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari rejected the criticism and accused the TMC of overlooking similar incidents during its tenure. He referred to a reported 2025 incident in which 13 people died and questioned whether Banerjee had visited the affected families.
Following the latest tragedy, Adhikari directed officials to conduct safety inspections at Durga Puja pandals across West Bengal.
The investigation into the stampede and the circumstances surrounding the deaths remain central to demands for accountability and improved crowd management.
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