A stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata killed 19 people, including a seven-year-old girl, and injured 25 others, prompting arrests and a state-level investigation
Kolkata, West Bengal: At least 19 people were killed and 25 injured in a stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata amid heavy crowds and rainfall. Police arrested seven people, while the state government ordered an investigation and announced compensation for victims’ families.
Kolkata: At least 19 people were killed and 25 others injured in a stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata on Saturday evening, officials said. The incident occurred amid heavy crowds and rainfall as devotees gathered at the temporary pavilion during the annual Hindu festival.
According to police, worshippers gathered outside the pandal began pushing and rushing forward after an announcement triggered commotion as rain started. Some people fell to the ground and were trampled in the resulting crowd surge.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited Kolkata Medical College and Hospital, where the victims were taken, and confirmed the death toll. A seven-year-old girl was among those killed.
Kolkata Durga Puja Stampede Triggers Arrests and SIT Probe
Kolkata Police arrested seven people in connection with the stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samity pandal. Police are investigating possible lapses in crowd management and safety arrangements.
The West Bengal government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the incident, state Cabinet Minister Umesh Rai said on Sunday, describing it as a case of mismanagement. The chief minister also announced that a special investigation team headed by a High Court judge would examine the disaster, according to the reports provided. The exact composition and mandate of the inquiry require official confirmation.
The state government announced compensation of ₹25 lakh and a government job for the next of kin of each deceased person. It also announced ₹5 lakh for each injured person. Separately, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences and announced compensation of ₹2 lakh for the families of those killed and ₹50,000 for each injured person.
Durga Puja Pandal Safety Inspections Ordered After Stampede
Following the incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed police commissioners, district magistrates and superintendents of police to inspect safety arrangements at Durga Puja pandals across the state.
The directions included checking fire safety systems, entry and exit points, emergency exits and electrical installations. Officials were instructed to remain in the field and ensure that necessary precautions were in place.
Kolkata authorities also advised several heavily attended pandals to temporarily close to visitors. Kolkata Police imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, in sensitive parts of the city from October 18 to October 20 to maintain law and order.
The incident has renewed attention on crowd safety at large public gatherings in India. Previous stampedes include the Kumbh Mela disaster in 2025, which killed 30 people; a Bengaluru celebration following the local cricket team's first Indian Premier League title, in which 11 people died, and a 2024 religious gathering in Uttar Pradesh, where 121 people were killed.
