17 Dead In Kolkata Puja Pandal Stampede Amid Sudden Rain, 25 Injured
A tragic stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata claimed the lives of seventeen people and left twenty-five others injured after a sudden burst of rain triggered chaos. The incident occurred on the first day of the festival when people rushed inside the pandal to seek shelter from the downpour, creating intense crowd pressure as visitors near the exit did not step out. Administration officials, police, fire services, and disaster management teams responded to evacuate the injured, who were admitted to hospital for treatment. In the aftermath, directives were issued to other puja pandals across the city to eliminate dark areas, improve lighting, and review crowd control measures. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the tragedy and announced compensation for the families of the deceased and the injured.
