Kolkata: Five persons were killed and 20 persons suffered injuries in a stampede-like situation at Kachua Loknath Temple near Basirhat in North 24-Parganas on Friday morning. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the families of the deceased, Rs 1 lakh for grievously injured persons and Rs 50,000 for those who suffered minor injuries. According to a police source, a part of the boundary wall surrounding the temple caved in when a number of devotees rushed into the temple gate to offer prayers to the deity. As it was raining, hundreds of devotees, who had turned up at the temple on Janmasthami, were stranded in makeshift bamboo shops set up adjacent to the shrine. When it stopped raining, the devotees started rushing into the temple, which led to a stampede-like situation, as the space leading to the temple was narrow. Some of them fell down and suffered severe injuries. The injured persons were rushed to a local hospital, however, when the health condition of some of them deteriorated they were moved to three hospitals in the city. The Chief Minister visited National Medical College and Hospital and SSKM Hospital where some of the injured persons were admitted. "The mishap at Kachua is unfortunate and tragic. It was raining heavily when people tried getting into the temple. The incident took place after the rain stopped. Some bamboo structures under which devotees had taken shelter have collapsed. A few people also fell into a pond during the stampede-like situation," Banerjee said. Adding that the state government would bear the medical expenses of those undergoing treatment, she maintained: "We have adequate measures in place at Gangasagar and Chakla Dham to cater to a huge gathering of devotees. Since many people are now also turning up at Kachua. We will take measures to tackle the crowd here as well." The deceased have been identified as Aparna Sarkar of Duttapara, Tarun Mondal of Hasnabad, Poornima Garai of Rajarhat and Sanka Das of Hasnabad. The fifth person, who died on the temple premises, has not been identified yet. State Food minister Jyotipriya Mallick, who is also the district president of the Trinamool Congress in North 24-Parganas, visited the spot and held a meeting with the temple committee. "There was a meeting with the local administration regarding the set-up of makeshift kiosks adjacent to the temple. The temple committee has flouted some of the guidelines that was discussed in the meeting," Mallick said adding that a detailed plan will be made to ensure proper crowd management at Kachua. At present, three persons are undergoing treatment at Dhanyakuria rural health centre, three at Basirhat district hospital and four at National Medical College Hospital, a senior state Health department official said. All other persons, who were admitted to the hospital, have been discharged.

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