I did not make it to town this week. So I looked it up on Hebrew books.
The Chasam Sofer is discussing the passing of a tzaddik, in a specific context. Namely, one leader passing on as averting disaster for his followers. He even writes that this does not apply if two leaders pass on together. Along the way he gets into a discussion about a young leader who does not yet have followers. This is not relevant to what just occurred. Though it is similar to what was said from the Chofetz Chaim. A thought that follows is, that one leader passing would have averted such an absence.