19 killed in crowd crush at Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata

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At least 19 people, including 13 women and a child, were killed and at least 25 others were injured in a stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata, India, on Saturday night.

The incident occurred at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal during Maha Saptami celebrations on October 17. Heavy rainfall prompted visitors to crowd inside the venue for shelter, triggering a surge that left people trapped beneath one another.

Among the two additional victims identified in subsequent reports were 38-year-old Abhishek Srivastava and seven-year-old Ayansh Kumar Srivastava, reportedly members of the same family.

Several injured people were hospitalised, with some in critical condition transferred to SSKM Hospital. Doctors said some victims required intensive treatment.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and senior officials visited the site and hospitals. Authorities closed the pandal and launched an investigation into crowd management and safety arrangements. A helpline was also opened to help families seeking information about those affected.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as “heartbreaking” and said assistance was being provided to affected families.