Heavy rain, a surge of visitors and narrow entry and exit gates are among the factors investigators are investigating. Preliminary information also suggested that an announcement and whistles used by a private security agency may have contributed to the rush. Kolkata: Nineteen people were killed and 25 others injured in a stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata on Saturday (October 17) evening.
The pandal was evacuated and closed to visitors, while police teams, fire brigade personnel, disaster management staff and medical teams were sent to the site. The precise sequence of events is still under investigation. An initial statement by an assistant commissioner of police at the spot also referred to an announcement by a private security agency and the blowing of whistles. He described seeing people piled over a girl and a boy and alleged that police personnel and volunteers were absent at the time. Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee criticised the police and the state government following the incident. In a post on X, he wrote: “FIRST IN MY BLOODLINE! Shame on @KolkataPolice, @WBPolice and @SuvenduWB. May Maa Durga grant strength and solace to the grieving families and bless all those injured with a swift and complete recovery.”
Because of heavy crowding during rain, the Kolkata Police said the stampede occurred near the exit gate in the Girish Park police station area. The dead included 13 women and a child, according to reports. The incident took place around 7.40 pm on Saptami, one of the busiest days of the Durga Puja festival.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said preliminary information suggested that an announcement by the puja committee had contributed to the rush. The man said he had also fallen during the rush.
He announced a fact-finding inquiry and said the investigation would examine the circumstances behind the deaths. Authorities are also working to identify the deceased and contact their families.
Adhikari said members of the puja committee and the private security agency had been detained for questioning. “I can’t give a statement before the investigation is over, but I assure that proper investigation will be done with full transparency,” the chief minister told Zee 24 Ghanta over phone. The Chorbagan pandal was handed over to forensic teams, the Special Task Force and fire brigade personnel for further examination, according to reports.
