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The Chorbagan Durga Puja stampede in North Kolkata claimed 19 lives and left around 25 people injured. (Img: X)
Kolkata: A night of Durga Puja celebrations turned into a tragedy at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata last evening, after a stampede broke out at around 7:40 pm, leading to the death of 19 people and leaving more than 25 injured.
As per eyewitnesses, the incident took place near the exit of the pandal in the Girish Park police station area on Saturday. Preliminary accounts suggest that rain, narrow access routes, a sudden rush of visitors and an alleged announcement warning of a possible pandal collapse may have contributed to the disaster.
Police has so far arrested seven people, including members of the organising committee, in connection with the incident. Investigation is underway to find out the root cause of the incident as well as to establish how the situation escalated and whether those responsible for managing the crowd followed safety procedures.
The injured were taken to Calcutta Medical College and Hospital and other medical facilities. The state government has announced a probe headed by a sitting judge of the Calcutta High Court, compensation for victims’ families and helplines for people seeking assistance.
Among those affected by the tragedy is 25-year-old Sonu Pal, a resident of Kumartuli in Kolkata, who lost his mother during the stampede. He had visited the Durga Puja pandal with her to offer prayers when heavy rain began, forcing large numbers of people to seek shelter inside.
According to his account, people near the entrance began pushing forward to escape the rain. As more visitors tried to enter, the pressure within the crowded pandal increased rapidly. People reportedly lost their balance and fell over one another, leaving some trapped beneath the crowd.
Pal said he was also caught beneath the crush and struggled to get free. After managing to escape, he reached his mother but found that she had died. His account highlights the devastating impact of the incident on families who had arrived at the pandal to celebrate the festival.
The tragedy has left relatives searching for answers about how a religious gathering became so dangerous within minutes. The accounts of survivors and families are likely to form an important part of the wider effort to understand the sequence of events.
Local residents have pointed to several possible factors behind the stampede, including narrow lanes around the venue, a shortage of volunteers, inadequate lighting and the sudden movement of people seeking shelter from the rain.
A woman living in the neighbourhood said many of the volunteers appeared to be local youths with limited experience in handling large crowds. She and other residents also questioned whether an ambulance had been stationed close to the venue before the emergency.
These claims have not yet been independently established, and investigators will need to determine what arrangements were actually in place. However, the concerns have intensified questions about whether the organisers and authorities had prepared an effective crowd-management plan for a popular festival destination.
Eyewitnesses have also reported that both entry and exit points were narrow. Some visitors allegedly rushed towards the pandal after the rain intensified, while others attempted to leave after an announcement warned that the structure could be at risk if the crowd was not controlled.
The announcement is a key part of the investigation. Preliminary information cited by the chief minister suggests that a message over the public-address system, along with whistles, may have triggered a sudden rush. Authorities are examining whether the wording and timing of the warning contributed to panic.
Heavy rainfall, restricted movement, high footfall and limited emergency access can increase risks at crowded public events. Investigators are expected to assess the layout of the venue, crowd-control arrangements, security deployment, emergency exits, lighting and access for ambulances.
Kolkata Police have arrested seven people, including members of the Chorbagan Durga Puja organising committee. Twelve people were initially detained for questioning, including organisers, on-duty staff and private security personnel.
Police have obtained CCTV footage from the venue to reconstruct crowd movement and identify possible lapses. The investigation is examining the roles of the puja committee, private security agency, police and other personnel involved in managing visitors.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the authorities would investigate responsibility for the incident and take action against anyone found to have failed in their duties. He also indicated that the probe would examine the reported announcement and the adequacy of crowd-control arrangements.
Jayanta Banerjee, general secretary of the Chorbagan Durga Puja Committee, resigned following the tragedy. Other office-bearers also confirmed their resignations.
The pandal was closed after the incident, while authorities also shut some other prominent puja venues as a precaution. Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita was imposed in the area for three days, according to reports.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal and Health Minister Saradwat Mukherjee visited Calcutta Medical College and Hospital to review the situation and meet the injured.
The state government has announced compensation of Rs 25 lakh and a government Group-D job for the family of each person who died. It has also promised to cover the full cost of treatment for the injured and provide Rs 5 lakh to each injured person.
A probe headed by a sitting judge of the Calcutta High Court has been announced. The proposed investigation is expected to involve officials from the Special Task Force, Criminal Investigation Department and other departments. The government has also discussed seeking a fact-finding committee involving forensic teams.
The investigation will need to establish whether the crowd was properly managed, whether emergency routes remained accessible and whether the reported announcement was handled appropriately. CCTV footage, witness accounts and other available evidence are expected to be important in determining the sequence of events.
The scale of the tragedy has also raised concerns about the capacity of hospital emergency services to respond to a sudden influx of casualties.
A message circulated following the incident called for the administration to treat the emergency as a top priority, clear the affected area, ensure that media organisations could report accurate information without obstruction and discourage members of the public from travelling to the site unnecessarily.
The message also urged authorities to prevent rumours and misinformation from spreading, while warning against attempts to conceal information that could create further confusion. It called for more doctors and medical staff to be deployed in the emergency department at Calcutta Medical College and Hospital.
The appeal reflects the challenges faced by emergency responders during a mass-casualty incident, when hospitals may need to rapidly expand triage, trauma care and patient-management capacity. Authorities have said arrangements are being made to provide treatment to those injured.
The tragedy prompted an outpouring of condolences from political leaders across party lines, with several calling for the injured to receive prompt medical attention and for the circumstances surrounding the stampede to be investigated.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident and offered condolences to the families of those who died. He announced financial assistance from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, under which the next of kin of each deceased person will receive Rs 2 lakh, while those injured will be provided Rs 50,000 each. Modi also sought a report from the state government on the incident.
Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed shock and sorrow over the incident at the Chorbagan Puja pandal. In a post on X, she prayed to Maa Durga for the speedy recovery of those injured and for strength and courage for their families during the difficult period.
The Trinamool Congress questioned the reported availability of police personnel, civic volunteers, ambulances and crowd-management arrangements at the venue. The party demanded accountability from the Kolkata Police and the BJP-led administration.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed grief and announced that he was postponing his scheduled programmes in West Bengal to visit the injured in hospital. Expressing condolences to the bereaved families, he prayed for the speedy recovery of those receiving treatment. The state government cancelled its scheduled programmes for Sunday, including a planned meeting involving Amit Shah.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also mourned the loss of lives, extending his condolences to the bereaved families and praying for the swift recovery of the injured. He said relief and rescue efforts were underway to ensure timely assistance to everyone affected by the tragedy.
President Droupadi Murmu described the deaths as heartbreaking and conveyed her deepest condolences to the families who had lost their loved ones. She also prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge expressed deep sorrow over the incident, while Governor RN Ravi said he was deeply saddened by the loss of precious lives and extended his sympathies to the bereaved families.
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi expressed anguish over the tragedy, urging the authorities to ensure immediate medical care for the injured and conduct an impartial inquiry into the circumstances that led to the stampede. He also called on Congress workers to assist with relief efforts.
Abhishek Banerjee also reacted sharply to the tragedy, criticising the Kolkata Police, West Bengal Police and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari in a strongly worded post on X. Alongside his criticism, he prayed that Maa Durga would provide strength and solace to the grieving families and grant those injured a swift and complete recovery.
Governor RN Ravi and several other political leaders also conveyed condolences to the bereaved families. The political reactions have added to mounting calls for accountability as investigators examine the crowd-management arrangements, emergency preparedness and the sequence of events that preceded the deadly rush. The probe is expected to establish whether any negligence contributed to the tragedy and identify those responsible, if lapses are confirmed.
The stampede occurred during the 91st year of Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja, a prominent community celebration in North Kolkata’s Hatibagan and Beadon Street area, near Ram Mandir on Muktaram Babu Street.
This year’s theme, AROB, refers to being away from sound and noise. The pandal depicted Goddess Durga and her children in a meditative setting, with lighting and sound arrangements designed to create a calm atmosphere. Unlike the traditional warrior-like depiction of Durga, the installation showed her in a peaceful state, while Mahishasura was portrayed surrendering his weapons.
The organisers intended the theme to promote peace and composure amid global conflict and hostility. However, the celebrations were overshadowed by the stampede, which raised serious questions about safety arrangements at major religious gatherings.
