Families of people who died in the Chorbagan stampede will receive financial assistance of ₹25 lakh each, while the state government has announced an inquiry led by a retired Calcutta High Court judge, according to a report by Anandabazar. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited the victims’ families across East Burdwan, Hooghly, Nadia and Howrah on Tuesday and handed over cheques to several of them.
In Birpur in East Burdwan, Adhikari met Sanjay Bez, who lost his 43-year-old wife Tagar Bez and 14-year-old son Sandeep Bez while they had travelled to Kolkata to see puja celebrations. After speaking with Sanjay for around 15 minutes, the chief minister handed him cheques totalling ₹50 lakh, with ₹25 lakh provided for each death. The family was also assured that one member would be offered a government job.
Sanjay told the publication that he had lost his wife and son while visiting puja celebrations and that the chief minister’s visit during the festival had been unexpected. He said the family had been assured of further assistance.
The chief minister then travelled to Arambagh in Hooghly, where he met the family of Piyali Pramanik, a relative of the Bez family who also died in the Chorbagan incident. Piyali had been visiting the puja venue with the family. Her relatives received a ₹25 lakh cheque.
Adhikari also visited the family of Aarti Sarkar, a resident of Chakdah who died in the stampede, and the family of Akriti Raut in Liluah, Howrah. Akriti, a resident of Anandnagar Vidyasagar Palli, also died in the incident. Her family was given a ₹25 lakh cheque and an assurance of support.
At Baidyabati, the chief minister met the parents of 27-year-old Sriparna Poddar, who died at Chorbagan. Adhikari said Sriparna had been the family’s only child and worked at a cancer hospital in Rajarhat. He assured the family of financial assistance, said her mother could be provided an opportunity to work as a nurse again and directed the district magistrate to initiate old-age pension support for both parents.
Sriparna’s mother, Swapna Poddar, told Anandabazar that the loss could not be compensated but that the family had received substantial assistance. She said they had not made any demands.
The government is forming a committee headed by a retired Calcutta High Court judge to investigate the Chorbagan incident, Adhikari said during his visit to Chakdah. He said neither the police nor the Kolkata Municipal Corporation would be included in the committee to maintain independence. He also said action would be taken if negligence was established.
The chief minister said the government was refraining from celebratory activities while supporting affected families. The announced inquiry and the promised employment, pension and financial assistance now become the next formal steps following the deaths.
