Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee expressed shock on Saturday over a tragic Kolkata stampede in which at least 18 people lost their lives. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) alleged poor crowd management and a lack of police presence after the stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samity puja pandal.
‘Little to no police presence to control the crowd’: TMC
Public safety cannot be treated so casually. As the death toll rises, who will take responsibility? Will @SuvenduWB accept accountability and resign? Why does public safety take a back seat while VIP arrangements receive priority? The Puja Pandal has now been closed to visitors.
“Today at around 7:40 pm, a stampede occurred at the exit gate of Sarada Park (Chor Bagan) Puja Pandal, under Girish Park Police Station, due to heavy crowds of pandal hoppers amid rainfall.
Targeting the ruling BJP and the police, the party said, “@KolkataPolice and the @BJP4Bengal administration must answer for these grave lapses. It said, “@KolkataPolice, WHERE WAS THE SECURITY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE WHEN PEOPLE NEEDED YOU MOST? It further said, “How many more lives must be put at risk before the @BJP4Bengal administration answers for these failures? The TMC chief said, “Deeply shocked and saddened to learn about the stampede at the Chore Bagan Puja Pandal. All injured persons were rescued and shifted to MCH for treatment,” the police said.
