At least 17 killed in stampede at North Kolkata Durga Puja pandal

• At least 17 people died in a stampede at the Chore Bagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata on Saturday.

• Police said around 35 people were taken to MCH hospital after the crush at the exit gate amid heavy crowds and rain.

• The pandal was closed to visitors, and emergency teams were deployed for rescue and medical assistance.

At least 17 people died and several others were injured in a stampede at the Chore Bagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata on Saturday evening.

Kolkata Police said the incident occurred at around 7.40 pm at the exit gate of the Sarada Park, or Chor Bagan, puja pandal in the Girish Park police station area. Heavy crowds had gathered at the venue during rain.

Around 35 people were taken to MCH hospital, according to the police. The pandal was subsequently closed to visitors.

Police reinforcements, fire brigade personnel, a Disaster Management Group team and ambulances carrying medical teams were deployed at the site. Police said those injured were rescued and transported to hospital.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal visited the hospital to assess the situation.

Witnesses described chaotic scenes as visitors were caught in the crowd crush. One person told news agency ANI that several people lost consciousness and that some of the injured were taken to hospital on motorcycles.

Another witness, whose daughter and granddaughter were hospitalised, told NDTV that both the entrance and exit were narrow and that the area lacked lighting.

Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee expressed shock and sorrow over the incident in a post on X. She prayed for the injured to recover quickly and for their families to find strength.

The police statement attributed the stampede to heavy crowds at the exit during rain. Witness accounts raised concerns about access and lighting at the venue.

With agency inputs