At Least 17 Killed, 25 Injured in Stampede at a Festival in India's Kolkata

KOLKATA, Oct 17 : At least 17 people were killed and 25 others injured in a stampede at a Durga Puja festival in north Kolkata, in India's West Bengal state, officials said.

The incident occurred at a Durga Puja pandal, a temporary pavilion set up to house idols of the Hindu goddess Durga.

According to a police statement, the stampede occurred in the evening as large crowds of festivalgoers visited the pandal amid rainfall.

Police said all injured people were rescued and taken to hospital for treatment.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari confirmed that 25 people had been injured in the incident.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sorrow over the deaths and extended his condolences to the bereaved families.

In a post on X, Modi described the stampede as “saddening,” wished the injured a speedy recovery and said the West Bengal government was providing all possible assistance to the affected families.

Interior Minister Amit Shah also expressed concern, saying the administration was ensuring that the injured received all possible medical facilities.

Further details about the circumstances leading to the stampede were not immediately available.