Stampede injures twenty five in Kolkata

A stampede occurred during Durga Puja celebrations in Kolkata. Twenty five people were injured in the incident. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited the health department control room on October twenty, twenty twenty six.

Injured moved to private hospital

Authorities shifted the injured from a state-run hospital to a private hospital. The decision was made on the spot after assessing treatment facilities available at state hospitals.

CM defends the decision

Chief Minister Adhikari said the shift was to ensure the best possible treatment and prevent further loss of life. He stated there was nothing controversial about the decision.

“We moved those injured to private hospitals because we realised that the best treatment could be provided there so that there is no more loss of life.”

No deaths among the injured

Adhikari announced that there was no death among the twenty five injured in the stampede. He expressed happiness at this outcome following the shift to private care.

“I am happy to announce that there was no death among the 25 injured in the stampede.”

Not a failure of state health

Responding to criticism, Adhikari said the decision should not be seen as a failure of the state health department. He defended the Health Minister and health secretary against criticism.

“There is nothing to say that the State's health infrastructure has failed.”

Two years needed for upgrades

Adhikari acknowledged shortfalls in state hospital infrastructure. He said it would take at least two years to elevate the health system in West Bengal to match private sector facilities.

“It would take at least two years for us to elevate the health system in West Bengal and bring it on par with that of the private sector.”

Private hospital waived costs

The private hospital did not demand payment for treating the injured. The state government asked it to submit bills according to Ayushman Bharat rates instead.

“The private hospital did not demand its cost, but we asked them to send us bills as per Ayushman Bharat rates.”

Inquiry into doctors' media statements

Adhikari asked the Health Minister to submit a report on doctors at a medical college who spoke to media after the incident.He said if they left duty to speak to media, it violated service rules.

Healthcare expansion plans underway

Adhikari said industrialist Gautam Adani and his son committed to inaugurating a hospital at Arogya Mandir within eighteen months. Reliance authorities also approached the government about opening pathological centres.

Concerns for economically weaker sections

Adhikari asked Reliance what facilities they would offer to economically weaker sections. He noted that fifty percent of people in West Bengal earn fifteen thousand rupees a month.