Kolkata. The accident that happened on the night of Mahasaptami at Chorbagan Sarvajanin Durga Puja pandal became a lifelong pain for many families. Suddenly there was such chaos among the people who had come to celebrate the darshan and puja of Maa Durga that many families were destroyed in no time. So far 19 people have died in this stampede, while many people are said to be injured.
According to eyewitnesses and victims' families, a large number of devotees started going inside the pandal after the sudden rain started. Meanwhile, the crowd kept increasing and a scuffle started among the people in the narrow path. Some people lost their family members in front of their eyes in the accident.
13 year old Pranjal fell into the crowd, could not get up again
13-year-old Pranjal Sarkar, who had come from Agarpara with her parents to watch Durga Puja, also became a victim of the accident. During the stampede, she fell down amidst the crowd and the crowd of people kept passing over her.
According to Pranjal's uncle, when he reached the hospital, a large number of dead bodies were present there. He said that shoe and boot marks were visible on the faces of many of the dead. It was extremely painful for the family to see their daughter in this condition.
Crowd sent inside after rain, then whistled and asked to come out
A devotee from Nadia told that he had reached Chorbagan pandal with his wife and sister-in-law's daughter. According to him, after the sudden heavy rain started, the barricading rope was removed and people were allowed inside the pandal. Within no time the crowd inside increased a lot.
The victim alleges that after this people were asked to come out by whistling. Suddenly a scuffle started due to people moving forward in the narrow path and his wife got buried under the crowd. He told that he himself fell and was unable to save his wife.
Mother loses her hand, 7 year old girl in ICU
During the stampede, a seven-year-old girl left her mother's hand and fell into the crowd. The girl has been admitted to the ICU of the hospital in a critical condition, where she is being given oxygen support and necessary tests including X-ray are being done.
According to the girl's grandfather, the path leading to the pandal was very narrow and dark. People from many other families were also injured in the accident.
Meanwhile, 25-year-old Sonu Pal's mother also fell among the crowd. According to Sonu, his mother died in front of his eyes. He told that for a few moments he felt that he himself would get buried under the crowd.
After losing her only daughter, the mother asked – who will take the responsibility?
Those who lost their lives in the accident also included a nurse who worked in Tata Oncology. After the death of her daughter, her mother is crying badly. He said that his daughter meant the whole world to him and she was his only child.
After losing her daughter, the mother raised questions regarding the security arrangements at the puja pandal. He says that such incidents have happened in the country earlier also due to crowd, despite this, how could there be a lapse in security arrangements in such a big religious event. He demanded accountability from those responsible.
Questions raised regarding narrow road, darkness and VIP gate
After the accident, local people and eyewitnesses have raised many questions regarding the puja committee and security arrangements. He claims that the road in front of Chorbagan pandal is very narrow and a large number of people were present there at the time of the accident.
According to locals, police presence was mainly around the VIP gate, while there were not enough security personnel on the route for common devotees. Some people also alleged that there were not enough ambulances or administrative vehicles immediately available to take the injured to hospitals after the stampede.
Local residents claimed that they took the injured to the hospital with the help of private vehicles and their own help. So far 19 people have died in the accident and many are injured.
However, the actual cause of the accident and any possible lapse in safety will be confirmed only after the official investigation is completed.
Also read: How a massive stampede broke out in Kolkata's Durga Puja pandal, 19 died; 25 injured, Rs 25 lakh to the family of the deceased and announcement of job