Kolkata Durga Puja Pandal Stampede-Like Situation Leaves 15 Injured, Several Critical

Several people sustained injuries in a stampede-like situation at the Chorbagan Sarbojonin Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata on Saturday, after a large crowd gathered to view the idols.

The incident occurred at the pandal on Muktarambabu Street. No deaths had been reported when this report was filed.

According to the latest available information, at least 15 injured people had been admitted to the nearby Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, with a few reportedly in critical condition.

Tension gripped the venue after a section of the exit gate structure collapsed.

Authorities feared that the number of injured people could increase as further details emerged.

Kolkata Police personnel, along with teams from the State Disaster Management Department and Fire Services, reached the site to assist with rescue operations and evacuate the injured.

The Puja organisers stopped allowing visitors into the premises and switched off the pandal’s lighting following the incident.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited Calcutta Medical College and Hospital alongside the BJP state president and party Rajya Sabha members to enquire about the condition of those receiving treatment.

CM Adhikari directed hospital authorities to provide the injured with the best possible medical care.

Puja organiser Bikash Das said the circumstances surrounding the incident had not yet been established. He stressed that rescue efforts and the transfer of injured people to hospital remained the immediate priorities.

“It is not clear as of now how this incident happened. For now, our emphasis is on rescue work, and our primary task is to take the injured to the hospital. Police personnel, along with teams from the State Fire Services and State Disaster Management Department, are on the spot. It is not clear whether the victims were trampled under crowd pressure or not,” Das told media persons.