KOLKATA: A deadly Kolkata festival stampede at a Hindu religious festival in eastern India claimed 17 lives and left 25 people injured on Saturday, October 17, prompting an emergency response by local authorities and an announcement of financial compensation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
According to a statement from Kolkata Police, the incident occurred at around 7:40 p.m. local time near the exit gate of the Sarada Park Durga Puja pandal, also known as Chorbagan, in the city’s Girish Park area.
Police attributed the incident to overcrowding amid rainfall. Emergency personnel rescued the injured and transported them to Medical College and Hospital for treatment. Police reinforcements, firefighters, disaster management teams, ambulances, and medical staff were deployed to assist those affected.
Authorities subsequently closed the pandal to visitors as rescue and emergency operations continued.
Kolkata Festival Stampede: Modi Announces Compensation for Victims’ Families
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said 17 people had been brought dead to hospital, while 25 others sustained injuries. He also visited the hospital to meet those receiving treatment, according to reports by Press Trust of India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of life and offered condolences to the bereaved families, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office published by the Press Information Bureau.
The government announced compensation of 200,000 Indian rupees for the next of kin of each deceased person from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. Those injured will receive 50,000 rupees each. The West Bengal administration is also providing assistance to affected families.
Durga Puja is one of West Bengal’s largest religious and cultural festivals, attracting thousands of visitors to temporary structures known as pandals, where devotees gather to worship the Hindu goddess Durga.
The precise cause of the crowd surge had not been independently established in the available official information. Indian media reports cited accounts involving heavy crowds, rainfall, and a rush near the venue’s entrance and exit.
