Kolkata Stampede : 17 killed at Durga Puja pandal

In a heartbreaking tragedy during the Navaratri festival season, a stampede like situation happened this Saturday evening in Kolkata and killed at least 17 devotees while leaving many others seriously injured. The accident took place around 7 pm near the exit gate of Sarada Park Chorbagan puja pandal.

Preliminary reports suggest that heavy rain and sudden lightnings have forced devotees to rush for shelter all of a sudden due to which a section of the temporary outside gate near the pandal collapsed. Many visitors tripped over one another on the wet ground, resulting in severe crush injuries. 17 of them were declared dead and several suffered severe injuries.

Rescue teams rushed to the location to save trapped people. Over 35 injured victims were taken immediately to Medical College and Hospital (MCH) for treatment. Many are said to be in critical condition. Authorities have stopped all public entry and closed the Chorbagan pandal completely for safety.

Devotees and witnesses blamed bad crowd control and lack of proper security arrangements by police for this fatal accident. People claimed that exit gates was too narrow to handle such massive crowd during sudden rain, which caused footwears and personal items scattered all across the ground during the chaos.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendhu Adhikari along with Health Minister Saradwat Mukherjee reached MCH to check on victim treatment. Former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed deep shock on social media and prayed for fast recovery of all injured devotees.