KATHMANDU, Oct 18: At least 19 people died and several others were injured in a stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samity Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata, Hindustan Times reported.
The stampede occurred around 7:40 pm on Saturday in the Girish Park police station area amid heavy crowds and rain. As the rain intensified, people waiting outside the pandal rushed forward, causing some to fall on the road and triggering the stampede, a senior officer told PTI.
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West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal visited the injured at Calcutta Medical College and Hospital. Adhikari said authorities were trying to contact the victims’ families and that puja organisers had been detained.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Adhikari, former chief minister Mamata Banerjee and other political leaders expressed condolences over the deaths.
Authorities closed the affected pandal and other crowded venues.