Several people were injured in a stampede-like situation at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata on Saturday evening, with eyewitnesses describing scenes of confusion as visitors struggled amid heavy crowds and rainfall. Around 35 people had been shifted to Kolkata Medical College and Hospital (MCH) for treatment as of the latest update, according to Kolkata Police.
The pandal was subsequently closed to visitors and evacuated, while the injured were rescued and taken to hospital. Senior officials from Kolkata Police and the Fire Brigade rushed to the pandal following the incident. The West Bengal government also issued a toll-free helpline for people seeking information about the accident. He appealed to the police administration to ensure cooperation in rescue efforts and called for more medical staff at hospitals. “We request the police administration; our workers are cooperating. The number of medical staff in hospitals should be increased. We are cooperating with the police.
Police said the situation arose due to a heavy crowd of pandal visitors amid rainfall. The incident occurred at around 7.40 pm at the exit gate of the Sarada Park (Chor Bagan) Puja pandal, which falls under the Girish Park Police Station area. The government asked people to call 18003455678 for updates related to the incident.
“I still haven’t been able to understand what happened, so I can’t comment on the incident at this point,” the eyewitness said. Kolkata Police said all injured people had been rescued and shifted to Kolkata Medical College and Hospital for treatment. Several visitors were brought to the hospital’s emergency department, where treatment was under way, according to sources. Relief and rescue operations still need to be carried out inside the pandal,” he said.
