Rain-triggered rush outside a North Kolkata pandal sparks deadly crush.
TBS Report
17 October, 2026, 11:50 pm
Last modified: 18 October, 2026, 12:02 am
At least 17 people were killed and 25 others injured in a stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata's Chorbagan locality today (17 October), West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said.
A senior police officer said the stampede occurred after rain began in the evening, prompting people waiting outside the pandal to rush forward. Some fell onto the road, triggering the crush.
An eyewitness told news agency ANI that many people lost consciousness amid the massive crowd.
"Many people lost consciousness; some were being taken on motorcycles. I witnessed this happening all around - when people fainted, they were taken away on bikes. All of this took place, and there was a massive crowd as well..." the eyewitness said.
The injured were taken to nearby Calcutta Medical College for treatment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over the loss of lives and announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs2 lakh for the families of those killed and Rs50,000 for each injured person.