Stampede kills at least 17 people at religious festival in India

At least 17 people have been killed and 25 injured in eastern India after a stampede that was likely caused by sudden rainfall during a Hindu religious gathering.

West Bengal's Chief Minister Suvendhu Adhikari said the fatalities included a seven-year-old girl and that 25 others were injured outside a pavilion "in a stampede" at the Hindu festival of Durga Puja in the city of Kolkata.

"Six bodies have so far been identified," Mr Adhikari said.

The stampede was caused by a "sudden influx of people" into the pavilion, West Bengal State Minister Umesh Rai said.

"It is a tragic incident. Seventeen people have lost their lives, and 25 have been injured. The injured victims have been taken to different hospitals for their treatment," Mr Rai said.

A senior police official said an announcement caused a "commotion" after it started raining at night.

They said the "crowd waiting outside the pandal (pavilion) was pushing, pulling and rushing forward and fell on the ground, leading to the stampede."

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office, in a post on social media platform X, announced a compensation payment of 200,000 rupees ($2,106.15) for the next of kin of those who died and 50,000 rupees each for the injured.

Deadly crowd incidents are frequent occurrences at Indian mass events due to management and safety lapses.

Last year, a stampede at India's Kumbh Mela religious fair killed 30 people and injured several others, and 11 fans were crushed to death in Bengaluru during celebrations for the local cricket team's first Indian Premier League title.

The same year, 36 people were killed after a stampede broke out at a campaign rally of a popular actor-turned-politician in southern Tamil Nadu state.

In 2024, 121 people were killed in northern Uttar Pradesh state during a Hindu religious gathering.

Reuters/AFP