Stampede at Hindu Religious Festival in Kolkata Leaves at Least 17 Dead
A crowd surge amid heavy rain at a Durga Puja pavilion in West Bengal killed at least 17 people and injured 25 others.
At a glance
- A stampede at a Durga Puja pavilion in north Kolkata killed at least 17 people and injured 25 others on Saturday evening.
- Police reported that a crowd surge occurred amid heavy rainfall and an announcement that sparked panic among waiting worshippers.
- Indian authorities announced financial compensation for the injured and the families of those who died in the disaster.
At least 17 people were killed and 25 others injured on Saturday evening after a stampede broke out at a Hindu religious gathering in north Kolkata, West Bengal, according to local authorities.
A seven-year-old girl was among those who lost their lives in the disaster, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari told reporters. Adhikari confirmed that emergency services had identified six of the deceased victims as rescue operations got underway.
Police said the incident took place at a Durga Puja pandal, a temporary pavilion set up to house idols of the goddess Durga, which draws thousands of worshippers. Thousands of people had gathered at the site when sudden rainfall triggered chaos. According to a police statement, the surge occurred due to massive crowds of visitors attempting to navigate the site during the downpour.
A senior police official at the location informed the AFP news agency that a public announcement caused commotion once the rain started. Worshippers waiting outside rushed forward, pushing and falling over one another, which quickly led to the fatal crush.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sorrow over the disaster in a post on X, describing the incident as saddening and offering condolences to the families of the victims. Modi added that the state government was providing necessary support to those affected. His office later announced financial relief of 200,000 rupees ($2,106) for the relatives of each person who died, alongside 50,000 rupees ($527) for each injured survivor. Federal Interior Minister Amit Shah stated that authorities were working to guarantee that the injured receive all required medical care.
History of Crowd Disasters
Mass casualty crowd crushes remain a recurring danger at large-scale public events and religious festivals across India, where safety lapses and crowd management challenges frequently occur.
Last year, a stampede at the Kumbh Mela festival resulted in 30 deaths, while a crowd surge in Bengaluru killed 11 people during celebrations for a local cricket team's tournament win. Another incident at an actor-turned-politician's campaign rally in Tamil Nadu claimed 36 lives. In 2024, a separate crush at a religious gathering in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh left 121 people dead.
Source: Al Jazeera.
Questions and answers
- What caused the stampede in Kolkata?
- Police said the crush occurred on Saturday evening amid heavy crowds and rainfall outside a Durga Puja pavilion, where an announcement caused a commotion that led people to push forward and fall.
- How many casualties were reported in the incident?
- Officials reported that at least 17 people were killed, including a seven-year-old girl, and 25 others were taken to the hospital with injuries.
- What assistance has been offered to the victims?
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office announced compensation of 200,000 rupees ($2,106) for the next of kin of each deceased victim and 50,000 rupees ($527) for each injured person.
