In brief
During a wet summer evening, a surge of people at a Durga Puja celebration in Kolkata sought shelter from sudden rain, creating a chaotic stampede that killed 17, including a seven‑year‑old girl. Official statements from West Bengal’s chief minister and Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the tragedy and pledged aid. Crowd control failures at religious gatherings have a history in India, with similar incidents occurring in Uttar Pradesh two years prior. The event underscores the urgent need for better crowd management and emergency preparedness at large festivals.
At least 17 people have died and many more injured in a crush at an event in Kolkata to mark the Hindu festival of Durga Puja, officials said.
The incident happened during sudden rainfall, which witnesses said triggered a rush as crowds sought shelter.
West Bengal’s chief minister Suvendhu Adhikari said a seven‑year‑old girl was among the dead and that 25 people were receiving treatment for injuries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the event "tragic" and stated that the state government was providing help to affected families.
Six of the dead have been identified so far.
A senior police official told AFP that an announcement caused commotion after it began raining, and the crowd started pushing, pulling and rushing forward, leading to a stampede.
Deadly crowd incidents, especially at religious festivals, are not uncommon in India due to inadequate management and a lack of safety measures.
Earlier this year, 121 people were killed at a Hindu gathering in Uttar Pradesh, citing similar crowd control failures.
