In brief
During the Hindu festival of Durga Puja in Kolkata, a sudden rainfall triggered a crowd surge that turned into a deadly stampede, killing at least 17 people, including a 7‑year‑old girl, and injuring dozens more. West Bengal’s Chief Minister Suvendhu Adhikari confirmed the casualties and 25 injured, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident tragic and promised aid for affected families. The police blamed the chaotic traffic following an announcement and the storm for the mass panic. Similar tragedies have plagued religious festivals in India, underscoring chronic problems in crowd management and safety protocols.
At least 17 people have been killed and many more injured in a crush at an event in the Indian city of Kolkata to mark the Hindu festival of Durga Puja, officials say.
The incident occurred during sudden rainfall, which witnesses say prompted a surge of people to try to seek shelter.
West Bengal's Chief Minister Suvendhu Adhikari said a seven‑year‑old girl was among the dead, and that 25 people were being treated for injuries.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described it as a "tragic" incident and said the regional government was providing help to affected families.
Six of the dead have been identified, Adhikari said.
A senior police official told AFP that an announcement caused "commotion" after it started raining, the crowd was pushing, pulling and rushing forward, and people fell, leading to the stampede.
Deadly crowd incidents, including during religious festivals, are not uncommon in India due to poor management and lack of adequate safety precautions.
Two years ago, 121 people were killed in Uttar Pradesh during a Hindu religious gathering (link).
