In brief
Seventeen people lost their lives in a crowd crush at a Durga Puja event in Kolkata as sudden rain forced thousands into a pandal. Witnesses reported a surge of panic and pushing that caused the stampede. The incident claimed a seven‑year‑old girl and left thirty‑five injured. Government officials announced the tragedy as “tragic” and pledged aid to victims.
At least 17 people have lost their lives, and dozens were wounded, in a sudden crowd crush at a Durga Puja event in Kolkata as rain fell unexpectedly.
The incident began when sudden rainfall prompted thousands of devotees to rush for shelter inside a large Durga Puja pandal, creating a chaotic surge. Witnesses said the sudden announcement of rain and the crowd’s attempts to find cover triggered pushing, pulling and a subsequent stampede.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendhu Adhikari confirmed that a seven‑year‑old girl was among the dead and that twenty‑five people were receiving treatment in local hospitals.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the event as a “tragic” incident and said the government was offering assistance to the affected families. Six of the victims have already been identified.
India has a history of crowd‑related fatalities at religious festivals, most notably a 2019 incident that killed 121 people in Uttar Pradesh. Officials say the lack of adequate security measures and crowd management often leads to such tragedies.
