In brief
In the evening of Sunday, a sudden rainstorm caused a surge of people seeking shelter at a Durga Puja event in Kolkata, leading to a fatal crush that claimed at least 17 lives. The West Bengal Chief Minister confirmed a seven‑year‑old girl among the dead and that 25 others were hospitalized. Prime Minister Modi called the incident 'tragic' and pledged support for the victims' families. Authorities say such crowd incidents during religious festivals are frequent in India due to inadequate safety measures.
At least 17 people have been killed and many more injured during a crush at a Durga Puja event in Kolkata, officials said.
A sudden rainfall caused a surge of attendees seeking shelter, setting the stage for the tragic crowd collapse.
West Bengal’s Chief Minister Suvendhu Adhikari confirmed a seven‑year‑old girl among the dead and that 25 people were treated for injuries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as a 'tragic' event and said the regional government was providing aid to affected families.
Six of the fatalities have been identified so far.
A senior police official told AFP that an announcement triggered 'commotion' after rain began; the crowd began 'pushing, pulling and rushing forward', resulting in the stampede.
Crowd crushes at religious festivals are not uncommon in India, typically stemming from poor management and a lack of safety precautions.
Two years earlier, 121 people were killed in a similar gathering in Uttar Pradesh.
