State Bureau, Kolkata: A Durga Puja celebration in Kolkata turned tragic on Saturday evening when a stampede at the Sarada Park (Chorbagan) Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal claimed the lives of 19 people and injured many. Meanwhile, an eyewitness recounted the tragic incident, in which he lost his mother. The 25-year-old son, Sonu Pal, is left shattered.

“I saw my mother die right in front of me. I probably wouldn’t have made it out either,” Sonu said, still trying to process what happened.

What Happened At The Pandal

Sonu, who lives in Kumhartoli, had gone to the pandal with his mother to offer prayers and enjoy the festivities. The situation became tense when heavy rain suddenly started pouring down shortly after they arrived. People near the entrance didn’t want to step back into the downpour, so the crowd began pushing hard to get inside.

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The pressure built quickly. People started falling over one another, and the whole area descended into chaos. Sonu got caught in the rush himself and had to fight just to stay on his feet. Once he managed to pull free, he pushed his way toward his mother, but by the time he reached her, she was already dead.

Major Durga Puja Pandals Temporarily Closed

After the incident, authorities have temporarily stopped public entry at several of the city’s major Durga Puja pandals as a safety measure. With around 3,500 celebrations underway across Kolkata this year, police have told organisers of the busiest venues to pause entry for now. The list includes Tala Pratyaya, Alipur Sarvajanin, Chetla Agrani and Ballygunge Sarvajanin. An event planned at Allen Park has also been cancelled.

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A senior police officer said the restrictions are temporary and aimed at managing crowds and preventing any further accidents. Officials plan to review the situation on Sunday before deciding what happens next.

According to Jagran.com, Sajal Ghosh, president of the Santosh Mitra Square Puja Committee, confirmed that entry has been restricted for the time being. In Salt Lake too, police have directed organisers of big pandals to close their gates.