Indiaupdated 1h ago2 min read
Kolkata Durga Puja Stampede Kills 19 After Heavy Crowds Amid Rain
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
At least 17 killed in stampede at Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal, north Kolkata. Dozens injured, with about 35-40 taken to hospital.
Rain, crowd crush in Kolkata
A stampede-like crush during Durga Puja at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samity puja pandal in central Kolkata left at least 19 dead and several others injured, police said.
Dipali Das, a pandal hopper, told the media, "The incident took place around 7:30 pm. The crowd at the pandal was already swelling."
Suvendu Adhikari said a seven-year-old girl was among the fatalities in north Kolkata, and he said 25 people were being treated for injuries.
A police statement said the stampede happened in the evening due to "heavy crowds of pandal hoppers amid rainfall," and a senior police official said an announcement caused "commotion" after it started raining.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as "saddening" and his office announced a compensation payment of 200,000 rupees for the next of kin of those who died and 50,000 rupees each for the injured.
Officials, eyewitnesses, and competing counts
Suvendu Adhikari told reporters that a seven-year-old girl was among the fatalities, and he said "Six bodies have so far been identified," as police said injured people were taken to hospital from a Durga Puja pandal.
A senior police official at the scene told AFP that an announcement caused "commotion" after it started raining, and the crowd waiting outside the pandal was pushing, pulling and rushing forward and fell on the ground, leading to the stampede.
NDTV said a witness described narrow entry and exit, and the witness said, "The entrance was very narrow, and the exit gate was also narrow. There was no lighting in the area."
Kolkata Police said in a statement that at around 19:40 hrs a stampede occurred at the exit gate of the Sarada Park (Chor Bagan) Puja Pandal in the Girish Park Police Station area due to heavy crowds of pandal visitors amid rain.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X, "Condolences to the bereaved families. Wishing the injured a speedy recovery," while the West Bengal Government provided all possible help to affected families, Adhikari said.
Hospital visits, closures, and payouts
Kolkata Police said the pandal was closed to visitors after the stampede, and the police statement said all injured persons were rescued and shifted to MCH for treatment. Hindustan Times reported that West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari and chief secretary Manoj Agarwal visited the hospitalised injured at Calcutta Medical College and Hospital. Amit Shah said the administration was ensuring that all possible medical facilities were being provided to the injured, and he also said he was postponing scheduled programs in West Bengal to visit the injured in the hospital.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced interim compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the families of those who died and Rs 50,000 for the injured, and he said the stampede in Kolkata was extremely distressing. The incident occurred at the exit gate of Sarada Park (Chor Bagan) Puja Pandal under Girish Park Police Station, and police said reinforcements from the Control Room, Fire Brigade, Kolkata Police, DMG team and ambulances with medical teams were deployed.