'I pray for peace...': Amit Shah postpones Bengal programmes after Kolkata Puja pandal stampede

Union Home minister Amit Shah on Saturday expressed grief over the reported stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata and announced that he would postpone all his scheduled programmes in West Bengal on Sunday to visit the hospital and meet the injured.

In a post on social media, Shah said he had received the distressing news of the incident and had spoken to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari regarding the situation. He expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

Shah also said the administration was making arrangements to provide all possible medical assistance to those injured in the incident.

Amit Shah expresses grief over stampede

In his message, the Union Home Minister in a post on X said, "I have just received the extremely heartbreaking news of the stampede that occurred at the Chorbagan Public Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata. I have spoken with Chief Minister Shri Suvendu Adhikari ji regarding this matter.

I pray for the peace of the souls of the devotees who lost their lives in this tragedy and express my condolences to their families. The administration is ensuring that all possible medical facilities are being provided to the injured."

He added that he would travel to the hospital on Sunday to meet those injured in the incident, after postponing his scheduled engagements in the state.

"I will postpone all my scheduled programs in West Bengal tomorrow and visit the hospital to meet the injured. I pray to Maa Durga for the swift recovery of all the injured," Shah added.

The announcement comes amid concern over the incident at the north Kolkata Durga Puja pandal. The Home minister offered prayers for the peace of the souls of those who died and conveyed his sympathies to their families.

Further details about the incident and the condition of the injured are awaited.