Kolkata Durga Puja Pandal Stampede: The festive crowds that gathered to celebrate Durga Puja in north Kolkata turned into a scene of tragedy on Saturday evening, October 17, after a warning that a pandal could collapse reportedly triggered panic among visitors. The stampede at the popular Chor Bagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal killed 19 people and injured several others as heavy rain, narrow lanes and a rush of people intensified the chaos.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said a preliminary investigation had linked the announcement to the deadly crush. Police have arrested seven people and begun examining CCTV footage as authorities investigate possible safety and crowd-management failures.
Kolkata Durga Puja Pandal Stampede: Announcement Warning of Pandal Collapse Triggered Panic
According to the police, organisers made an announcement warning visitors that the pandal might collapse and asking them to leave. The message reportedly spread fear among people already struggling to move through the crowded venue.
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“The condition of the pandal is very bad. It will collapse. Please leave”
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the preliminary investigation pointed to the announcement as a key factor behind the stampede.
“Preliminary investigation has revealed that it was an announcement by the organisers which led to the stampede-like situation and resulted in so many deaths.”
A police officer told Hindustan Times that organisers made the announcement while volunteers blew whistles, apparently adding to the panic. Investigators will need to establish precisely how the warning affected the crowd and whether other factors contributed to the disaster.
Kolkata Durga Puja Pandal Stampede: Heavy Rain and Narrow Lanes Added to the Chaos
The stampede occurred at the Chor Bagan pandal in north Kolkata at around 7:30 pm, when large numbers of devotees were visiting the venue on Saptami, the seventh day of Durga Puja.
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