A deadly stampede at a Durga Puja festival in Kolkata killed 17 people. Heavy rain caused the crowd to panic while seeking shelter.
A deadly crowd crush occurred during a religious festival in Kolkata, India. At least 17 people died at the Durga Puja event. Many others suffered injuries during the chaos.
Also, the tragedy happened when heavy rain began to fall. Witnesses say the crowd surged forward to find shelter. This sudden movement led to the fatal stampede.
Next, local officials confirmed the death toll includes a young girl. She was only seven years old. Medical teams currently treat 25 injured victims at nearby hospitals.
Meanwhile, West Bengal official Suvendhu Adhikari spoke about the incident. He confirmed that authorities identified six of the victims so far. Rescue efforts continue at the scene.
Then, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation. He called the event a truly tragic loss. He stated that the government provides support to the grieving families.
After that, a police officer explained how the panic started. An announcement triggered a commotion among the attendees. The crowd pushed and pulled while rushing to escape the rain.
Still, experts note that such disasters happen occasionally at large gatherings. Poor safety measures and bad crowd management often contribute to these problems. India has seen similar events in the past.
Finally, a major incident occurred two years ago in Uttar Pradesh. A religious gathering there resulted in 121 deaths. Safety officials emphasize the need for better crowd control at future festivals.