Kolkata Durga Puja Stampede Kills 19; Police Probe Crowd Lapses, 12 Detained

A stampede at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata has claimed 19 lives and left several others injured, triggering an investigation by Kolkata Police into crowd management lapses. Eyewitnesses alleged poor arrangements, confusion over entry and exit routes, and that police personnel were heavily focused on VIP entries rather than general crowd control. Sudden torrential rain forced large numbers of revellers to rush towards the entry gate, escalating the situation. Forensic teams have collected evidence from the site, while CCTV footage is being examined by the police. Twelve people, including pandal organizers, have been detained for questioning. The West Bengal government announced a compensation of 25 lakh rupees and a government job for each deceased person's family, alongside 5 lakh rupees and full medical expenses for the injured. The state government assured stringent action against anyone found responsible for negligence.