Ratna Debnath Attributes Kolkata Stampede to Public Mindset
BJP MLA Ratna Debnath holds the public accountable for the tragic stampede during Durga Puja in Kolkata, which resulted in 19 fatalities.
The stampede in Kolkata's Chorbagan area left 19 dead and 25 injured.
Ratna Debnath emphasizes the need for a change in public mindset to prevent similar incidents.
A six-member SIT has been established to investigate the causes of the tragedy.
In a recent statement, BJP MLA Ratna Debnath attributed the tragic stampede during the Durga Puja celebrations in Kolkata's Chorbagan area to the behavior of the public. The incident, which occurred amid heavy rain, resulted in the deaths of 19 individuals and left 25 others injured. Debnath suggested that if attendees had chosen to step outside and embrace the rain, the crowd size would have been reduced, potentially averting the disaster.
The stampede took place at a popular Durga Puja pandal located in a narrow lane, where a false announcement regarding the pandal's imminent collapse contributed to the chaos. Debnath criticized the public's mindset, stating, "If people had stepped outside and got drenched in the rain, there would not have been such a large gathering. There is a great need to change people’s mindset."
In response to inquiries about accountability, Debnath noted that Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had already initiated an investigation by forming a special six-member investigation team (SIT) to explore the circumstances surrounding the incident. She expressed skepticism about the necessity of further demands for an investigation, asserting that the committee was already in place to address the issue.
While acknowledging the negligence that led to the stampede, Debnath maintained that the responsibility lay primarily with the public, who she claimed were focused on their own interests. She remarked, "People think of nothing beyond their own selfish interests. What would have happened if they had got drenched in the rain? Nothing would have happened."
Debnath's comments come in the wake of her meeting with the family of a victim, where she also highlighted the negligence of the puja pandal authorities and the police. She criticized the lack of lighting at the exit gate and the chaotic conditions that contributed to the tragedy. Furthermore, she contrasted the current Chief Minister's response to the incident with that of his predecessor, emphasizing the need for accountability and proactive measures to prevent future occurrences.
