17 killed in Kolkata Durga Puja stampede

At least 25 injured; 13 women, 1 child among the dead

At least 17 people, including 13 women and a child, were killed and two dozen more injured yesterday in Kolkata after a stampede that was likely caused by sudden rainfall during a Hindu religious gathering, officials said.

West Bengal’s Chief Minister Suvendhu Adhikari told reporters the fatalities included a seven-year-old girl, adding that 25 others were injured outside a pavilion “in a stampede” at the Hindu festival of Durga Puja.

“Six bodies have so far been identified,” Adhikari said.

A senior police official at the scene told AFP an announcement caused “commotion” after it started raining at night and the “crowd waiting outside the pandal (pavilion) was pushing, pulling and rushing forward and fell on the ground, leading to the stampede.”

“Today, around 19:40, a stampede occurred at the exit gate of the Sarada Park (Chor Bagan) Puja Pandal in the Girish Park Police Station area due to heavy crowds of pandal visitors amid rain. All injured persons were rescued and taken to MCH (Medical College and Hospital),” the Kolkata Police said in a statement.

A witness told news agency ANI that many people lost consciousness during the stampede. Many were rushed to the hospital on motorcycles.

Another witness blamed narrow entry and exit gates for the tragedy.

“The entrance was very narrow, and the exit gate was also narrow. There was no lighting in the area....My daughter and granddaughter are hospitalised,” he said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the incident extremely distressing. He has announced interim compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the families of those who died. The injured will receive Rs 50,000 each.

Deadly crowd incidents are a frequent occurrence at Indian mass events, such as religious festivals, due to poor 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.