UPDATED: Oct 18, 2026 10:48 IST
A major political row has erupted in West Bengal following a stampede at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata that claimed nineteen lives and left over twenty people injured. The Trinamool Congress has demanded accountability and the resignation of Chief Minister Shubendu Adhikari, alleging that his nephew, a Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Member of Legislative Assembly, serves as the president of the Chorbagan Puja Committee. Union Home Minister Amit Shah cancelled his scheduled public engagements in Bengal to visit the injured victims admitted at the Calcutta Medical College alongside the Chief Minister. The Union Home Ministry has also sought a detailed report from the state government regarding potential security lapses. Meanwhile, Kolkata Police have arrested key office bearers, including the general secretary and vice president of the committee, on negligence charges, while shutting down the pandal under Section 163 and stepping up crowd management measures across Kolkata.
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Kolkata Pandal Stampede: Seven Arrested After 19 Killed; Organisers Booked
Kolkata Police have arrested seven people in connection with the deadly Durga Puja pandal stampede that claimed 19 lives. The arrested individuals include the Puja committee's secretary, vice president, committee office bearers, private security staff, crowd control personnel, and the bamboo structure contractor. A suo motu complaint was registered at Girish Park Police Station, following which 14 people were initially detained and seven subsequently arrested under non-bailable sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 105 for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, Section 110, and Section 3(5). A special investigation team formed by Kolkata Police is reviewing CCTV footage and questioning potential witnesses to determine the trigger of the incident. Emerging accounts point to either panic sparked by an announcement or a sudden rush into the pandal due to heavy downpour. While questions have been raised regarding police deployment and crowd safety measures at the venue, investigators and forensic teams continue to examine the site.
Kolkata Pandal Stampede: 19 Dead, 14 Detained As Police Ban Gatherings
A stampede at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata has left 19 people dead and several others injured, with seventeen victims declared dead on arrival at the hospital and two succumbing later. Following the tragedy, Kolkata Police imposed Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Section 163 around the site, prohibiting public gatherings and sealing the pandal and adjacent lanes. Eyewitnesses highlighted severe lapses, including narrow entry and exit points, inadequate security deployment, and overcrowding in a restricted by-lane. Reports indicate that an announcement warning of potential damage to the structure due to overcrowding triggered panic among visitors. Police have registered a First Information Report, invoking culpable homicide charges, and detained 14 people, including event organisers. A Special Investigation Team and forensic officials have seized closed-circuit television footage from the location as the investigation continues.
Heavy Rain Lashes Chennai, Inundates Airport Entrance as NDRF Reviews Preparedness
Heavy overnight rainfall triggered widespread waterlogging across Chennai, submerging vehicles and inundating the entrance of Chennai Airport. North Chennai recorded intense downpours within a short span. Following the rain, the Greater Chennai Corporation stepped up water clearance operations across affected areas, including Kolathur. Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and civic officials inspected relief work and water clearance measures. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force were placed on standby and reviewed disaster preparedness alongside the corporation commissioner. While rain paused and conditions improved in several parts, authorities remain on alert with further rainfall expected.
Telangana College Dandiya Tragedy: Student Killed, 12 Injured in Lighting Truss Collapse
A festive celebration turned tragic at MVSR Engineering College in Rangareddy district, Telangana, when an 80-foot lighting truss collapsed during a Dandiya event, killing a first-year student and injuring 12 others. The deceased was identified as Sona Narayan Das, who was brought dead to the hospital, while her sister, Meena, remains in critical condition. Hundreds of students were participating in the cultural programme on Saturday when strong winds caused the heavy iron structure holding stage lights to crash onto the crowd. Injured students were immediately moved to a nearby hospital for treatment and underwent CT scans, with doctors declaring several of them stable. Police forces were deployed to the campus following the incident. A case has been registered against the lighting setup organisers, and authorities have launched a detailed investigation to ascertain the safety protocols and lapses leading to the fatal collapse.