19 Dead, 25 Injured in Stampede at Kolkata Durga Puja Pandal
The death toll from a stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata, India, has risen to 19, with 25 people injured, one in critical condition, as police detain organizers over crowd management failures exacerbated by heavy rain.
Death Toll Rises to 19 After Kolkata Durga Puja Stampede
The death toll in Saturday's stampede in India's eastern city of Kolkata rose to 19, with 25 injured people receiving treatment in different hospitals and one in a critical condition, confirmed West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday. [1] At least 19 people were killed and 25 others were receiving medical treatment after a crowd crush at a Durga Puja festival venue in Kolkata, eastern India, officials said Sunday. [2] The stampede occurred at a religious event, locally called "Durga Puja", amid the ongoing annual festive season in the country. [1] Thousands of people had gathered to take part in the celebrations when the stampede occurred. [1] The incident occurred on Saturday evening in north Kolkata as heavy rain prompted crowds near a festival pavilion to move suddenly, causing people to fall. [2] Most among the dead were women and children, he said while admitting that there were "some shortcomings" in the arrangements made by the organizers. [1] Kolkata is the capital city of India's eastern state of West Bengal. [1]
Announcement Warning of Pandal Collapse Sparked Panic
A stampede occurred at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal, leading to 19 fatalities and multiple injuries. [3] “The condition of the pandal is very bad. It will collapse. Please leave.” A microphone announcement warning visitors that the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal was at risk of collapsing may have triggered panic and contributed to a stampede that killed 19 people and injured 25 in north Kolkata on Saturday evening, police said on Sunday. [3] A video of the announcement, which is being examined by Kolkata Police, captures the warning that the pandal could collapse. [3] Police are trying to identify who made the announcement and establish what prompted it. [3] Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari blamed the alleged callousness of the organisers and said the tragedy would be investigated. [3] He also suggested that the announcement made by the puja committee over the microphone may have triggered the crush. [3] A senior police officer said preliminary findings pointed to a combination of poor crowd management, confusing announcements and a sudden surge of visitors seeking shelter from a downpour during Saptami celebrations. [3] “We have gathered sufficient evidence pointing to gross mismanagement by the puja organisers. There was no clear plan to manage the large number of visitors, and everything was handled verbally,” the officer said. [3] According to police, the gates and approach road to the pandal were narrow. [3] As panic spread, visitors attempted to escape through the entrance, contributing to the crush. [3] Announcements regarding entry, exit and crowd movement were also inadequate, leaving people confused amid the rush. [3]
Organizers and Security Personnel Detained
Seven people, including the secretary and vice-president of the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samity, have been arrested in connection with the stampede at the Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata that left 19 people dead and 25 hospitalised. [4] Those arrested include Raj Kumar Sewda, alias Raja (48), the puja committee's secretary, and Santanu Dubey (55), its vice-president. [4] The other accused are Biplab Mukherjee, alias Joy (48), who was involved in constructing the bamboo structure at the pandal; Koushik Saha (53), who was responsible for crowd control and checking VIP passes; Pintu Dey (51), who was engaged in crowd management; and private security in-charges Suman Chakraborty (30) and Rajesh Pal (29). [4] The state government has constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the tragedy, with investigators examining possible lapses in crowd management and security arrangements. [4] Kolkata Police have registered a suo motu case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder in connection with the stampede, an officer said. [4] The case was registered at Girish Park police station under Sections 105, 110 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the organisers and others. [4] Meanwhile, media reports said that around 10 people, including the organizers and private security personnel, present when the mishap occurred were detained by the Kolkata Police for questioning. [1] “Whoever is found negligent will face legal action,” the chief minister said. [1]
Chief Minister Cites Shortcomings in Crowd Management
Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari blamed the alleged callousness of the organisers and said the tragedy would be investigated. [3] "This happened partly due to the rains, and there were also some shortcomings in the arrangements made by the event organizers," said the chief minister. [1] Most among the dead were women and children, he said while admitting that there were "some shortcomings" in the arrangements made by the organizers. [1] Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari said preliminary information received from the assistant commissioner of police present at the spot suggested that an announcement made by a private security agency and the blowing of whistles may have triggered the incident. [4] Adhikari said puja committee members and security agency personnel had been detained for questioning. [4] He assured that the investigation would be conducted transparently and that the government would provide assistance to the affected families. [4] “As a chief minister, I can't give a statement before the investigation is over, but I assure that proper investigation will be done with full transparency. The puja committee members and the security agencies have been detained. All kind of support will be provided to all families. This is a very, very sad incident,” he said. [4] Rain, overcrowding and entry-exit movement under scanner Giving a preliminary account of the incident, Rai said the pandal had witnessed heavy footfall over the past several days. [4] When it began raining, a large number of visitors rushed inside to take shelter, while those already inside struggled to get out. [4] The situation worsened as people continued entering from one side even as others attempted to leave through the other, he said. [4] The pandal's dark interiors, part of its themed setup, added to the difficulties, though Rai said darkness alone was not responsible for the stampede. [4] “When it started raining, people inside could not leave the pandal, while a large number of people continued to enter from behind. The stampede occurred at that point,” he said. [4] Rai alleged that the puja organisers and the security agency responsible for crowd management had failed to discharge their duties. [4]
Government Announces Compensation and Safety Review
The state government has announced compensation of Rs 25 lakh and a Group D government job for the family of each deceased victim. [3] It has also constituted a panel to review safety protocols at major Durga Puja pandals and recommend immediate corrective measures wherever shortcomings are found. [3] The minister also urged Durga Puja organisers across West Bengal to review crowd management arrangements, increase the number of entry and exit gates and ensure adequate lighting, particularly at crowded pandals with poorly lit interiors. [4] With celebrations scheduled to continue over the next three to four days, he asked organisers to take immediate steps to prevent overcrowding and avoid similar incidents. [4] “We want Durga Puja to be celebrated and for people to enjoy themselves, but it is essential that no accidents occur. The organisers of the Durga Puja celebrations must keep this in mind,” he said. [4] Political programmes cancelled West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya also provided an update on the patient reported to be critical, saying doctors were hopeful of recovery. [4] The patient was being shifted to a private hospital, with the medical expenses to be covered, he said. [4] Bhattacharya announced that Union home minister Amit Shah's scheduled programmes in West Bengal on Sunday had been cancelled following the tragedy. [4] Nitin Nabin's planned visit to the state was also called off. [4] Adhikari announced the cancellation of all events scheduled for Sunday in view of the incident. [4]
Investigation Focuses on CCTV, Witness Statements and Forensic Evidence
Police have collected CCTV footage and recorded statements from locals and eyewitnesses. [3] Investigators are also examining whether inadequate deployment of police personnel and private security guards worsened the situation. [3] Police said they would question survivors to cross-check eyewitness accounts and reconstruct the sequence of events. [3] A forensic team visited the site on Saturday night to collect evidence, with another team expected to conduct further examinations. [3] Meanwhile, Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Kumar Nand imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita on roads adjoining the pandal until October 20. [3] A forensic team visited the site, while police began questioning puja committee members, security personnel and police officers to establish the sequence of events leading to the stampede. [4] West Bengal minister Umesh Rai, who visited Calcutta Medical College and Hospital to meet the injured, said the SIT would examine the circumstances of the incident and identify those responsible for any negligence. [4] “This is a very tragic accident. The chief minister had called for action against those responsible yesterday. We are forming an SIT, which will investigate the entire incident and the circumstances in which it occurred,” Rai said. [4] The SIT will investigate the alleged lapses, and strict action will be taken against anyone found responsible for negligence, he said. [4] The investigation is expected to examine the movement of visitors inside the pandal, the arrangements for entry and exit, the role of the organisers and private security personnel, and the circumstances surrounding the announcement and whistles before the stampede. [4]
What to watch next: Of the 25 injured, 14 were undergoing treatment at a private hospital on Sunday, with three in the intensive care unit. One patient was in critical condition, while the other two ICU patients were showing signs of improvement, West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission chairman Biswajit Basu said. [3]
