Heavy rain and a sudden rush of visitors reportedly triggered a stampede-like situation at Kolkata’s Sarada Park (Chorbagan) Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal on Saturday evening, leaving 17 people dead and over a dozen injured.
The incident took place at the pandal’s exit gate in the Girish Park police station area, where a large crowd had gathered during Saptami.
How The Situation Unfolded
The incident occurred at around 7:40 pm on October 17, amid heavy rainfall and a large gathering of Durga Puja visitors. According to reports, people waiting outside rushed towards the pandal to escape the rain, contributing to overcrowding and a sudden surge near the exit gate. Several people reportedly fell and lost consciousness amid the chaos.
"The entrance was very narrow, and the exit gate was also narrow. There was no lighting in the area....My daughter and granddaughter are hospitalised,” IANS quoted an eyewitness.
A local said, "Because of the rain, everyone rushed inside together, and that is how the situation unfolded.”
The exact sequence of events leading to the stampede and the circumstances surrounding the reported deaths remain to be established.
What Kolkata Police Said
“Today at around 7:40 pm, a stampede occurred at the exit gate of Sarada Park (Chor Bagan) Puja Pandal, under Girish Park Police Station, due to heavy crowds of pandal hoppers amid rainfall. The Puja Pandal has now been closed to visitors. All injured persons were rescued and shifted to MCH for treatment. As per the information received so far, approximately 35 persons have been shifted to MCH,” ANI quoted Kolkata Police.
Police, fire brigade personnel, Disaster Management Group teams and ambulances were deployed to assist with the rescue and medical response. The pandal was closed to visitors following the incident.
CM Suvendu Adhikari Reaches Hospital
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal reached Medical College and Hospital to take stock of the situation. Health Minister Saradwat Mukherjee and other officials also rushed to the hospital as the injured were brought in for treatment.
Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed shock over the incident and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured, while wishing their families strength during the difficult time.
“Deeply shocked and saddened to learn about the stampede at the Chore Bagan Puja Pandal," Banerjee said in a post.
The incident has raised concerns about crowd movement and safety arrangements at the pandal. Further details about the circumstances that led to the stampede and the final casualty figures are awaited.