17 dead in Kolkata Durga Puja pandal stampede following erroneous announcement

A stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata resulted in at least 17 deaths on Monday, with initial investigations suggesting organisers' erroneous announcement precipitated the crowd crush. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari attributed the tragedy to the misleading announcement made by those managing the pandal.

The stampede erupted as large crowds gathered at the venue during festivities marking the Hindu festival dedicated to Goddess Durga. Witnesses reported chaotic scenes as devotees rushed toward exits following the announcement, overwhelming crowd control measures and resulting in a fatal crush.

Emergency services rushed to the scene to assist the injured and retrieve casualties. The incident has raised serious concerns about safety protocols and crowd management at major festival gatherings across the state, with authorities promising a comprehensive inquiry into the circumstances that led to the disaster.

The Kolkata administration has launched an investigation into the incident and pledged enhanced safety measures at similar public gatherings. Durga Puja, one of India's largest and most significant festivals, draws millions of devotees to pandals across West Bengal annually.