Durga Puja Stampede Kills 19 in Kolkata; Massive Crowd Surges After Rain, Probe Ordered

A stampede at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata claimed nineteen lives and left dozens injured after sudden heavy rain prompted an overcrowding surge. Part of the temporary structure collapsed, triggering panic and chaos among visitors. Emergency services, disaster management units, and police deployed to the site, rushing victims to Calcutta Medical College. Police registered a case to probe security lapses and detained twelve persons, including organisers, while forensic teams and task forces examine CCTV footage. The puja committee office bearers subsequently resigned. West Bengal authorities cancelled all official government celebrations and events. Eyewitnesses pointed to critical safety failures, including insufficient crowd control, poorly marked entry and exit routes, lack of evacuation plans, and inadequate police presence away from VIP gates.