Because it was a weekend were among the factors that contributed to the massive tragedy that claimed 17 lives at North Kolkata’s Chorebagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal on Saturday evening, witnesses and police said, narrow entry and exit gates, pouring rain, and crowds having swelled.
“I somehow managed to get up. I was very scared. There were many people on top of the girl and the boy. In that situation, there were no police or volunteers. There was nothing,” he added. All injured persons were rescued and taken to the hospital. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal reached the hospital to take stock of the situation. Former Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee expressed shock at the incident and wished the injured speedy recovery.
Police also issued a statement explaining the situation for now: “At around [7:40 pm], a stampede occurred at the exit gate of the Sarada Park (Chorebagan) Puja Pandal in the Girish Park Police Station area due to heavy crowds of pandal visitors during rain.
