A tragic stampede at a major Hindu festival in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal state, has resulted in the deaths of at least 19 people. The incident took place on Saturday night during the Durga Puja, an annual celebration honoring the goddess Durga, when rainfall prompted crowds near a pavilion to rush for shelter.
According to reports from local police, the chaotic movement began when some worshippers lost their footing on the road, triggering a stampede among the gathered crowd. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited the victims at the Kolkata Medical College and Hospital, confirming the death toll of 19 and noting that 25 others remain under medical care.
In response to the tragedy, the state government has initiated an investigation, with a Special Investigation Team set to be led by a judge from the state’s High Court. Law enforcement authorities have detained several individuals, including pavilion organizers, private security personnel, and on-duty staff, as part of an inquiry into potential safety and crowd-control failures.
Across Kolkata, approximately 3,500 Durga Puja pavilions, locally known as pandals, have been established for the festival. Following the disaster, officials have advised several of the city's most crowded venues to temporarily suspend visitor access.
Large crowd crushes are a recurring issue during religious festivals in India, where millions often gather in confined spaces with insufficient safety infrastructure. Similar incidents have occurred in recent years, including a January 2025 event where at least 30 people died during the Maha Kumbh festival, and a 2013 tragedy in Madhya Pradesh where 115 pilgrims were crushed or drowned amid panic over a potential bridge collapse.
