World · India Bureau
14 dead in stampede at Kolkata Durga Puja pandal
A stampede during the Durga Puja festival in Kolkata has claimed at least 14 lives, including 13 women and a child. The incident occurred as crowds gathered at a popular pandal in the city.
LSN India ·
A deadly stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata has resulted in at least 14 fatalities, with 13 women and one child among the dead. The incident took place as large numbers of devotees converged at the venue during the major Hindu festival celebration.
The stampede underscores the challenges authorities face in managing massive gatherings during peak festival season in India's cities. Durga Puja, one of the most widely celebrated festivals in eastern India, draws millions of visitors to pandals across Kolkata and surrounding areas, often creating congestion at popular venues.
Emergency services responded to the scene, and injured persons were transported to nearby hospitals for medical treatment. Officials have begun investigations into the incident to determine the exact sequence of events that led to the stampede and whether safety protocols were breached.
The state government is expected to announce measures aimed at preventing similar incidents during the remainder of the festival season. Durga Puja celebrations typically span ten days and attract unprecedented crowds to decorated temporary structures, making crowd management a persistent concern for civic authorities.