Kolkata: A video recorded shortly before the fatal stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata on Saturday evening shows people rushing toward the site as rain began, capturing the dynamic crowd movement in the moments leading up to the tragedy.
The incident occurred at approximately 7:40 pm on October 17 during Maha Saptami at the Sarada Park exit gate of the pandal. At least 19 people died and several others sustained injuries, with casualties being transported to Calcutta Medical College and Hospital for medical treatment.
The recorded visuals display a crowd moving toward the festival grounds amid wet weather conditions. The footage provides a look at the sudden rush before the emergency unfolded, as large numbers of visitors had gathered at the location to participate in the annual Durga Puja celebrations.
According to Kolkata Police, the deadly stampede took place amid heavy crowding combined with rainfall. A senior police official explained that the crowd surge started when rain began to fall, causing people who were waiting outside to push forward. Authorities are currently investigating the circumstances of the rush, which includes reviewing the crowd management arrangements at the venue.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari ordered an official inquiry into the incident, stating that individuals responsible for safety protocols at the location would face questioning. Investigators have gathered closed-circuit television footage and are reviewing available evidence to establish the exact sequence of events and assign accountability.
Furthermore, law enforcement has raised concerns regarding crowd control measures, the narrow design of entry and exit points, and specific announcements made during the rush. Investigators are actively examining whether an announcement implying that the pandal structure was in danger of collapsing triggered panic and confusion among the gathered visitors.