Kolkata Durga Puja stampede kills 19, police detain 12 as crowd-control failures come under scrutiny

At least 19 people were killed and 25 injured in a stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in India's Kolkata on Saturday evening, as heavy rain triggered a rush among thousands of visitors gathered at one of the city's popular festival venues.

The disaster occurred around 7:30 pm at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal, also known as Sarada Park, near Girish Park in north Kolkata.

The death toll rose from an initial 17 to 19 by Sunday, according to the Associated Press and Indian media reports. 

Witnesses said visitors rushed towards shelter when rain began, while people already inside the pandal struggled to leave through a narrow passage.

The resulting crowd pressure caused several people to fall near a staircase. Others were trampled as the crowd continued moving.

Some victims were rescued after local residents dismantled part of the temporary structure, The Times of India reported.

Doctors at Kolkata Medical College and Hospital said most deaths resulted from suffocation, while several victims suffered injuries during the crush. 

Police deployment questioned

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari ordered an investigation and directed police to question organisers and security personnel responsible for managing the crowd.

Police detained 12 people, including members of the organising committee and volunteers, according to India Today.

Residents alleged that inadequate police deployment and poor crowd management contributed to the disaster. Some claimed officers were concentrated near the VIP entrance, leaving other sections insufficiently monitored.

The allegations have not yet been established by investigators. 

Adhikari said an announcement by the puja committee may have contributed to the incident. A Special Investigation Team headed by a Calcutta High Court judge will examine the circumstances, The Week reported.

One of the 25 injured remained in critical condition on Sunday. 

Compensation announced

The West Bengal government announced 25 lakh rupees and a government job for each bereaved family. Injured victims will receive 5 lakh rupees each, with the state covering medical expenses.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi separately announced 2 lakh rupees for families of the dead and 50,000 rupees for the injured.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah postponed his scheduled Durga Puja visits and announced plans to meet injured victims.

Authorities sealed the Chorbagan pandal and advised several other heavily attended venues to suspend public entry temporarily.

The tragedy has renewed scrutiny of safety arrangements at Kolkata's Durga Puja celebrations, where thousands of temporary pandals attract large crowds each year. 

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