At least 17 people were killed and 25 injured in a stampede at a Durga Puja festival in north Kolkata, West Bengal state, on Saturday evening, according to Al Jazeera. A seven-year-old girl was among those killed. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari told reporters that "six bodies have so far been identified."
The stampede occurred at a temporary pavilion housing idols of the goddess Durga, known as a pandal. Police said the incident happened due to "heavy crowds of pandal hoppers amid rainfall." A senior police official told AFP that an announcement caused "commotion" after rain began, and "the crowd waiting outside the pandal [pavilion] was pushing, pulling and rushing forward and fell on the ground, leading to the stampede." The injured were taken to hospital from the site.
What is a Durga Puja pandal?
Durga Puja is a major Hindu religious festival that attracts thousands of devotees across India, particularly in West Bengal. A pandal is a temporary pavilion constructed to house idols of the goddess Durga during the festival. Devotees visit multiple pandals during the celebration, a practice known as pandal hopping.
A pattern of deadly crowd disasters in India
The stampede is the latest in a series of deadly incidents at Indian mass events. According to Al Jazeera, deadly crowd incidents happen frequently at Indian mass events, such as religious festivals, often due to poor management and safety lapses.
Last year, a stampede at India's Kumbh Mela religious fair killed 30 people and injured several others. In Bengaluru, 11 fans were crushed to death during celebrations for the local cricket team's first Indian Premier League title. In southern Tamil Nadu state, 36 people were killed in a stampede at a campaign rally for a popular actor-turned-politician. In 2024, 121 people were killed in northern Uttar Pradesh state during a Hindu religious gathering.
Government compensation and response
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as "saddening" and said, "Condolences to the bereaved families. Wishing the injured a speedy recovery. The West Bengal Government is providing all possible help to the affected families."
Modi's office announced compensation of 200,000 rupees ($2,106) for next of kin of those who died and 50,000 rupees ($527) each for the injured. Interior Minister Amit Shah said the "administration is ensuring that all possible medical facilities are being provided to the injured."