CENTRE ANNOUNCES EX-GRATIA RELIEF AFTER CHORBAGAN PUJA STAMPEDE: ₹2 LAKH FOR EACH VICTIM’S FAMILY

October 18, 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced financial assistance for the families of those killed and people injured in the stampede at Kolkata’s Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal.

Under the announced relief package, ₹2 lakh will be provided to the next of kin of each deceased person from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF). Those injured in the incident will receive ₹50,000 each.

The announcement follows the tragic crowd surge at the north Kolkata pandal, where heavy rainfall reportedly triggered a sudden rush among visitors, resulting in multiple casualties and injuries.

The financial assistance is intended to provide immediate support to bereaved families and those recovering from injuries. The incident has also brought renewed attention to crowd management and public safety arrangements at heavily visited Durga Puja pandals across Kolkata.

The announcement of compensation comes as the city grapples with the consequences of the tragedy and concerns remain over the circumstances that led to the stampede.