At least 19 people died and several others suffered serious injuries in a late evening stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durgotsab pandal in north Calcutta on Saturday.
Hundreds had been stranded in a narrow and curved exit, closed because of the rain, around 7.30pm when pressure from the crowd building behind them caused many of those in front to fall and get trampled.
The Puja on Radhamadhab Saha Lane in Machuabazar has been shut down along with several other Pujas, such as Tala Prottoy and Chetla Agrani, which too witnessed huge turnouts.
Social media images showed many lying on the road, some crying out in pain, while others scrambled to help them.
Confirming the 19 deaths, chief minister Suvendu Adhikari said: “17 people died on the spot and two died on their way to the hospital. Twenty-five are injured.”
Some visitors said the air-conditioning had stopped working at the pandal, which the overcrowding had turned “claustrophobic”. Inadequate lighting left many groping to find their way out.
“Why weren’t there police and ambulances? No police came to help; they fled the spot,” a neighbourhood resident said.
The area around the pandal was strewn with shoes. A part of the pandal had to be ripped open to remove those trapped inside, eyewitnesses said.
Sources said the injured had been taken to the Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata.
Additional commissioner of police (crime) Kunal Agarwal said in a written statement: “Today, at around 19.40pm, a stampede incident took place at the exit gate of Sarada Park (Chor Bagan) Puja Pandal (Girish Park PS area) due to heavy rush of pandal hoppers during rain.
“All the injured persons were rescued and removed to MCH. Reinforcement from Control Room/ Fire Brigade/ KP, DMG team/ Ambulances with Medical team were sent. Puja Pandal is now closed for visitors. So far information received around 35 persons were removed to MCH. Details are awaited.”
The curved passage leading to the exit gate was divided by an iron partition.
A survivor said: “There was a flight of steps leading to the exit gate. Some of the
visitors kept falling as the crowd waiting to exit the pandal swelled.
“Three of my friends fell, and many others tripped on them. I struggled to pull my friends out of the heap. Some of those who had fallen pulled at my hand for support to stand up.”
The Chorbagan Puja, in a pocket of Calcutta notorious for narrow lanes, is a big-ticket attraction every year. Located near the Ram Mandir, the Puja, in its 91st year, has been attracting massive crowds since October 12, when the pandal was inaugurated.
The theme of the Chorbagan Durga Puja this year was “Beyond Sound”. The pandal has been designed around the idol, with an elevated gallery-like structure encircling it, allowing visitors to view the deity from all sides in a 360-degree experience.
However, the pandal became overcrowded amid heavy rain in the evening. The rush of visitors on the elevated gallery is believed to have contributed to the stampede.
Trinamool MLA Kunal Ghosh posted a video on social media that showed several people lying motionless on a road, apparently outside the Chorbagan pandal gate.
Other visitors, some of them carrying umbrellas in the rain, were seen offering water and trying to revive them. Volunteers, too, were trying to assist the injured.
The police sealed the pandal at night and began a probe into why, when people near the exit gate were not being permitted to move out, so many others were allowed to crowd behind them. Investigators are collecting CCTV footage.
“A fact-finding will be done to determine why this incident occurred. I would ask Puja committees not to panic but to make necessary amendments wherever required,” Suvendu said. “All the teams have started together, including Kolkata Police, forensic, and fire. We are trying to ensure better treatment for the 25 injured.”
Suvendu said: “No one will be spared.”
He also announced a SIT to be headed by a “sitting judge”.
Suvendu and Bengal BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya said theme pujas will have to increase lighting.
The government has cancelled all its programmes on Sunday, Suvendu said.
Suvendu and health minister Sharadwat Mukherjee visited the hospital at night, and the health department instructed all senior doctors to come to the hospital.
Around 1.10am, Suvendu went into the pandal with police and forensic officers.
Helpline
The police have opened helplines: 18003455678 and 033 22143130.
“Deeply shocked and saddened to learn about the stampede at the Chore Bagan Puja Pandal,” former chief minister Mamata Banerjee said in a Facebook post.
“I pray to Maa Durga for the speedy recovery of all those injured and for strength and courage for their families during this difficult time.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced ₹2 lakh for the next of kin of each of the dead, and ₹50,000 for each of the injured.
Suvendu announced an ex gratia of ₹25 lakh for the kin of the dead and a Group D government job. The injured will get ₹5 lakh from the state.
CPM leader Md Salim expressed condolences.
Postponing his scheduled programmes in Calcutta for Sunday in the wake of the stampede, Union home minister Amit Shah will visit those injured in the incident.
In a message on X, Shah said: “I have just received the extremely distressing news of multiple casualties after the stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal. I have spoken with Chief Minister Shri Suvendu Adhikari about this matter.
“I am postponing all my scheduled programs in West Bengal tomorrow to visit the injured in the hospital. I pray to Ma Durga that all the injured individuals recover swiftly,” he wrote.
