The key facts
- At least 17 people were killed and 25 injured in a stampede at Durga Puja in northern Kolkata
- Police cited a 'large crowd of revellers moving from pandal to pandal amid rain' as the cause
- Modi and Shah expressed condolences; state authorities are assisting the victims
Stampede at religious festival
A stampede occurred in northern Kolkata in the state of West Bengal (India) during a Hindu religious festival, killing at least 17 people. The incident took place in the evening at a Durga Puja pandal — a temporary pavilion where idols of the goddess Durga are installed.
Official casualty figures
According to a police statement, the stampede occurred in the evening due to a 'large crowd of revellers moving from pandal to pandal amid rain'. All the injured were rescued and taken to hospital. According to West Bengal Chief Minister Sukanta Adhikari, in addition to the dead, 25 people were injured.
Reaction of the country's leadership
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on the social network X that the stampede had 'saddened' him, expressed condolences to the families of the victims, wished the injured a speedy recovery and noted that the West Bengal government is providing all possible assistance to the affected families. Home Minister Amit Shah stated on X that 'the administration is ensuring the provision of all possible medical services to the injured'.
