The Kolkata pandal stampede killed 18 people and injured at least 25 at the Chorbagan Durga Puja venue on Saturday night, after rain, crowding and an announcement over loudspeakers appeared to trigger panic among festival-goers. The incident occurred between 7 pm and 8 pm as large numbers of people gathered to enter the prominent pandal during West Bengal’s biggest festive season.
First responders and officials told The Indian Express that the stampede appeared to have followed an announcement at the venue. The exact sequence of events was still being established late Saturday night, while officials began collecting CCTV footage and other evidence from the site.
Videos recorded before the stampede showed a large crowd waiting to enter the pandal. The surrounding area has narrow lanes where only three to four people can walk side by side at a time, according to the report. Local residents said rain had prompted people to rush towards the pandal, adding to the congestion.
Several residents also said the venue appeared to have too few volunteers to manage the crowds. One woman said the volunteers were largely local youths with little experience in crowd management. Residents further told The Indian Express that an alleged announcement warned that the pandal might collapse if the crowd was not brought under control. The report did not establish whether that announcement was accurate or who authorised it.
The injured and the dead were taken to Calcutta Medical College, located less than two kilometres from the site. Dozens of relatives were waiting at the hospital for information about family members until midnight. Among the reported victims was 26-year-old Sriparna Poddar, a nurse from Baidyabati in Hooghly, who had visited the pandal with friends on her day off. Kalpana Yadav, 42, also from Hooghly, died in the incident, according to family acquaintances quoted by the newspaper.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who visited the hospital, said police had detained the puja organisers and private security guards hired to manage the crowds. He said the initial briefing indicated that an announcement by the organisers preceded the incident. Adhikari appealed to puja committees to work with the police administration and correct any gaps at entry and exit points, saying that people’s lives were more important than a puja theme.
The state has formed a fact-finding panel, while forensic and fire brigade teams are expected to examine the site. Officials said CCTV footage would assist the investigation. The inquiry is expected to examine the crowd-control arrangements, the narrow access lanes, entry and exit management, the loudspeaker announcement and the availability of emergency response facilities, including ambulance access.
The Prime Minister announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of each person who died. Those injured will receive Rs 50,000 each. Former chief minister and All India Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee expressed shock and offered prayers for the injured, while party spokesperson Nilanjan Das alleged criminal negligence and questioned the accountability of the Kolkata Police and the state administration. Those claims will form part of the wider public and official scrutiny as the fact-finding process proceeds.
