In brief
A sudden rainfall at a Durga Puja event in Kolkata triggered a surge of people seeking shelter, leading to a deadly stampede that killed at least 17 people and injured dozens more. Chief Minister Suvendhu Adhikari confirmed a seven‑year‑old girl among the dead and that 25 are receiving treatment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident "tragic" and pledged state support for affected families. The crush highlighted long‑standing crowd‑control issues at large religious gatherings in India.
At least 17 people have been killed and many more injured in a crush at a Durga Puja event in Kolkata, officials say.
The stampede happened as sudden rain forced a surge of people to seek shelter during the festival’s closing rites.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendhu Adhikari said a seven‑year‑old girl was among the dead and that 25 others were receiving treatment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as "tragic" and assured state support for affected families.
A senior police official told reporters that an announcement after the rain caused commotion, and crowds rushed forward, falling and creating a deadly crush.
Such crowd incidents are not uncommon in India, where large religious gatherings often lack adequate safety measures and crowd control.
Earlier this year, a separate Hindu religious event in Uttar Pradesh had claimed 121 lives in a similar stampede.
