Stampede at Kolkata Durga Puja pandal leaves several injured

Several people sustained injuries on Saturday following a stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata. The incident occurred at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samity puja pandal in the city.

Official Reactions

West Bengal Governor RN Ravi stated that many precious lives were lost in the tragedy, offering condolences to the bereaved families and praying for the recovery of the injured through a statement from Raj Bhavan. However, official confirmation on the exact number of deaths remains pending.

Hospital Visits

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal visited the injured victims who were admitted to Calcutta Medical College and Hospital.

Context

Durga Puja pandals in Kolkata draw massive crowds during the festive season, making crowd control a critical challenge for local authorities. Such large gatherings occasionally lead to overcrowding issues when visitor numbers exceed venue capacity.