Chaos at Kolkata Durga Puja Pandal: 17 Feared Dead, Over 25 Injured in Stampede
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
KOLKATA — A festive evening turned into chaos in North Kolkata after a sudden spell of rain triggered a stampede-like crowd surge at the popular Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal, leaving 17 feared dead and at least 25 revellers injured.
At the moment, there is no clarity on casualties and injuries.
The CM has rushed to the hospital where the injured were shifted.
Emergency response teams and Kolkata Police rushed to the scene to control the surging crowds and evacuate those trapped in the crush.
The incident unfolded on Saturday evening around 7:00 pm when heavy downpours accompanied by lightning lashed central and northern parts of the city. Thousands of pandal-hoppers waiting outside the Chorbagan community venue rushed forward simultaneously to seek shelter under the marquee, while visitors already inside hesitated to exit into the rain.
The opposing crowd pressure led to a severe bottleneck at the entry and exit gates, causing several people to lose their footing and fall on the slick road surface.
Sudden Surge Triggers Bottleneck at Pandal Entrance
According to eyewitnesses, the sudden change in weather transformed an orderly queue of thousands into a surging crowd within minutes. As visitors outside surged towards the covered structure, dozens of people fell on top of one another near the main access gates.
Key operational details following the surge:
- Location:Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal, North Kolkata.
- Injuries:At least 25 individuals rushed to medical facilities suffering from breathlessness, suffocation, and minor impact injuries.
- Hospital Emergency:Patients evacuated to Kolkata Medical College and Hospital in the Bowbazar police precinct.
- Security Deployment:Kolkata Police and Disaster Management Group (DMG) personnel deployed to clear access routes and restore crowd control.
Emergency Evacuation and Safety Response
Rescue personnel and local volunteers acted quickly to pull injured visitors from the crush and transport them to the emergency ward at Calcutta Medical College and Hospital. Medical teams placed several individuals on oxygen support to treat severe suffocation and respiratory distress caused by the crowd pressure.
Senior officers from Kolkata Police arrived at the venue shortly after the surge to halt entry into the pandal temporarily and implement strict barricading to regulate the flow of visitors. Authorities have urged Puja committees across the city to enforce strict entry-exit protocols and prepare contingency measures for sudden weather changes during peak festival hours.
