In brief
During the evening Durga Puja celebrations in Kolkata, a sudden downpour caused crowds to surge for shelter, triggering a deadly stampede. At least 17 people, including a seven‑year‑old girl, lost their lives and 25 others were hospitalized. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendhu Adhikari confirmed the toll and highlighted ongoing investigations, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident tragic. Crowd disasters during religious festivals are not uncommon in India due to inadequate safety measures. Authorities are reviewing crowd control protocols to prevent future tragedies.
At least 17 people have been killed and many more injured in a crush during the Hindu festival of Durga Puja in Kolkata, India, officials said.
The incident happened as sudden rainfall caused a surge of people rushing for shelter. Witnesses reported a chaotic scene where the crowd began pushing and pulling, leading to a fatal stampede.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendhu Adhikari confirmed that a seven‑year‑old girl was among the deceased and that 25 people were being treated for injuries. Six of the victims have been identified so far.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the disaster as tragic, assuring that regional authorities were providing support to affected families.
Safety experts point out that crowd incidents at religious festivals are a recurring issue in India due to poor management and a lack of adequate preventive measures.
Two years ago, 121 people died in a similar incident during a Hindu gathering in Uttar Pradesh, underscoring the need for stricter crowd control.
