KOLKATA: At least 17 people were killed and 25 others injured in a stampede during Durga Puja celebrations in Kolkata, the capital of India’s West Bengal state, according to local reports.
The incident occurred near an exit at a Durga Puja venue in the jurisdiction of Girish Park police station, according to information provided by Kolkata Police.
Authorities are working to identify the victims. Police sources believe many of those killed or injured had travelled to Kolkata from other districts to attend the religious celebrations.
Witnesses said thousands of people had gathered at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Mandap when heavy rain began in the evening. As the downpour intensified, people rushed to seek shelter inside the venue, which is located amid narrow streets and passageways.
Those already inside reportedly struggled to leave, while people caught outside pushed to enter the venue to escape the rain. The resulting congestion on temporary stairways triggered a stampede, with people falling over one another.
A video recorded from a nearby building has circulated on social media, showing several people lying on the ground amid cries and commotion. The footage has also been shared by Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh.
Police have sealed the affected pandal as investigations continue. Authorities have also reportedly closed three other prominent Durga Puja venues in Kolkata to visitors as a precautionary measure.
Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the incident, including whether any part of the iron structure beneath which the Durga idol was placed had collapsed.
