In the city of Kolkata in eastern India, West Bengal state, a tragedy occurred during the Durga Puja religious festival: a stampede broke out among the gathered crowd, claiming numerous lives. According to the primary source, at least 19 people died and another 25 were injured; several other publications, citing police representatives and the NDTV channel, report 17 deaths. All victims were rushed to a local hospital for medical assistance.
Circumstances of the Incident
According to reports, the incident occurred in the evening near a temporary structure where the religious event was taking place. A sudden heavy downpour caused panic among the crowd waiting at the entrance. According to a police officer at the scene, the chaos was triggered by an announcement broadcast over a loudspeaker. People began to push and shove, and many fell, leading to the stampede. The crowd, trying to take shelter from the rain in an enclosed space, ended up in a dense crush where the tragedy occurred.
Victims and Casualties
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari stated that a seven-year-old girl was among the dead. According to information from NDTV reported by other outlets, the victims included 13 women and one child. Twenty-five people were injured, including, reportedly, one police officer. Immediately after the incident, rescue workers and medical staff began providing aid; many relatives of the deceased wept near the hospital wards upon learning of the event.
Authorities' Response
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery. The government of West Bengal stated it is providing support to the affected families. Officials emphasized that work is underway to assist everyone affected by the stampede.
Investigation
Authorities have seized CCTV footage from cameras installed on the festival grounds to conduct an investigation. The goal of the inspection is to establish the circumstances of the tragedy and determine the responsibility of individuals involved in crowd control. The investigation results are expected to help assess whether safety measures were observed at the mass event.
