Tragedy Strikes During Saptami Celebrations in North Kolkata
The festive fervour in West Bengal turned into deep grief on Saturday evening when a massive stampede broke out at the prominent Chorbagan Sarbojonin Durga Puja pandal in central-north Kolkata. Being Saptami evening, thousands of devotees had gathered at the pandal to catch a glimpse of Goddess Durga. The narrow lanes surrounding the congested neighbourhood were packed with families and enthusiastic revellers.
However, the joyous atmosphere turned into panic when heavy rain started suddenly. To escape the downpour, large crowds waiting outside rushed aggressively into the already overcrowded pandal premises. The sudden surge in pressure caused a portion of the temporary structure to collapse, triggering immense chaos and a stampede.
Immediate Rescue Operations and Hospitalisation
Local police and disaster management teams rushed to the spot immediately after receiving information about the collapse. The injured were swiftly transported to the Calcutta Medical College and Hospital and nearby medical facilities. Emergency wards witnessed emotional scenes as anxious family members searched for their loved ones.
Authorities have confirmed 17 fatalities, while over 35 individuals remain under medical observation with varying degrees of injuries. Kolkata Police detained key organisers and private security personnel on duty to investigate potential negligence in crowd management and structural safety.
Top Leadership Expresses Condolences and Announces Relief
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed profound sorrow over the tragic incident and announced ex-gratia relief of 2 lakh rupees for the families of the deceased and 50,000 rupees for the injured from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also cancelled his scheduled political engagements in West Bengal and spoke directly with state authorities to assess the ground situation. He assured full support from the central government and planned to visit injured victims in the hospital.
