At least 19 people reportedly died in a stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata after heavy rain and an announcement warning that the structure could collapse triggered panic among visitors. The incident occurred on October 17 at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin (Sharda Park) Durga Puja pandal.
According to a complaint by Sub-Inspector Rupak Das of Girish Park Police Station, the tragedy took place between 7 pm and 7:30 pm at the pandal located at 10/1, Radha Madhav Saha Lane.
Heavy rain began suddenly while a large number of people were visiting the pandal. Around the same time, organisers reportedly announced over a microphone that the pandal had become unsafe and could collapse at any moment.
The warning triggered panic, with visitors rushing towards the exits. As people pushed against one another while trying to escape, a stampede broke out, leaving several people injured.
Police and Locals Rush to Rescue Victims
After receiving information about the incident, Sub-Inspector Rupak Das and other police personnel reached the spot. They found several people injured, with some lying unconscious.
Police personnel and local residents immediately began helping the victims and taking them to nearby hospitals for treatment. Authorities subsequently cleared the area and cordoned it off to prevent further entry. The injured were taken to Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. Das also visited the hospital to assess the situation.
Ten Deaths Reported at Hospital
According to the complaint, hospital sources confirmed that 10 people died while receiving treatment. The deceased were identified as Abhishek Srivastava 38, Sriparna Poddar 26, Mithu Mondal 45, Aadruthi Kumari 17, Barnali Haldar 17, Shubham Sonkar 32, Aarti Sarkar Biswas 45, Kalpana Jana 46, Tania Biswas 18, and Tagar Bhej 37.
The overall reported death toll stands at 19, although the details provided about hospital deaths account for 10 victims.
Police Investigation to Follow
Based on Sub-Inspector Rupak Das’s complaint, police are expected to register a First Information Report (FIR) and investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. Investigators will need to establish how the pandal’s condition deteriorated, how the warning was communicated to visitors and whether adequate safety and crowd-control measures were in place.
The tragedy has raised serious concerns about crowd management and public safety at large religious gatherings, particularly during adverse weather conditions. Further official details about the victims and the investigation are awaited.
