The West Bengal government has handed over two cheques worth ₹25 lakh each to the family of a father and his seven-year-old son from Bihar who died in the Chorbagan stampede in Kolkata, while the state government examines whether employment assistance can be extended despite domicile requirements.
The cheques, totalling ₹50 lakh, were delivered at the family’s home in Muzaffarpur to relatives of Abhishek Srivastava, 38, and his son Ansh Srivastava, 7. West Bengal’s Minister of State for Urban and Municipal Development, Umesh Rai, handed over the assistance after travelling to the family’s residence, according to the report.
Chief Minister Shuvendu Adhikari spoke to a female member of the family through a video call and assured them that the state government would stand by them. He said the government had managed to save many injured people after the Chorbagan stampede but had been unable to save the family members who died.
Adhikari said the state had a responsibility towards families affected by the incident and had sent Rai to provide the financial assistance. He also said the family would receive an additional ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s side.
The family has requested that the Bihar government provide a job to one of Abhishek Srivastava’s relatives. The chief minister said government employment in West Bengal generally requires a domicile certificate under the state’s recruitment rules. Families of victims who were residents of West Bengal had obtained the required domicile documentation, he said, but the same process could not be applied straightforwardly in the case of the Bihar-based family.
Adhikari said he would discuss the matter with legislators in Bihar to determine what could be done. He assured the family that the West Bengal government would extend all possible support. Rai also told the chief minister during the video call that he had spoken with the local MLA and BJP leaders and assured them of assistance.
The West Bengal government has announced financial assistance and government employment support for families of those killed in the incident. The employment question in this case has exposed an administrative distinction between compensation, which can be provided directly by the state, and recruitment, which is governed by domicile and other eligibility rules.
A special investigation team headed by a former judge has been formed to inquire into the stampede. The chief minister said the panel is expected to submit its report within three months, after which it will be placed before the state legislative assembly. He also said that no person responsible for the incident would be spared.
