19 Dead in North Kolkata Durga Puja Stampede; SIT to Probe Crowd Failure

At least 19 people, including women and children, were killed in a stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata on the evening of October 17, 2026. The incident occurred at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin pandal during Maha Saptami celebrations, leaving between 25 and 35 others injured.

The tragedy unfolded at approximately 7:40 PM when heavy rainfall triggered a sudden and disorganized rush among the thousands of devotees present. Witnesses reported that the crowd surged toward the exit gates to seek cover, resulting in a sudden crowd surge at the exit gate and a subsequent panic that overwhelmed private security and police on site. A seven-year-old girl was confirmed among the 17 victims who died at the scene, while others succumbed to their injuries at Calcutta Medical College and Hospital.

Investigators are looking into the structural failure of the exit gates during the rain-triggered rush.

State Compensation and Judicial Inquiry

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced a compensation package for the victims’ families, including an ex-gratia payment of ₹25 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased person. Additionally, the state government will provide a Group D government job to one member of each affected family.

In response to the catastrophic crowd management failure, the state government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT). According to official reports, the SIT will be headed by a sitting judge of the Calcutta High Court to ensure a transparent probe into whether safety protocols were bypassed by the organizers or if there was a lapse in the official police deployment plan.

Police Detentions and Emergency Measures

Kolkata Police have detained 12 individuals in connection with the incident. Those being questioned include members of the Chorbagan Sarbojanin puja committee, specifically the general secretary, as well as private security personnel who were managing the gates during the crowd surge.

Authorities have launched an official helpline to assist families searching for information regarding the injured or deceased:

Police Helpline Number: 8003455678

Medical teams at Calcutta Medical College and Hospital remain on high alert as several of the injured are reported to be in critical condition. Preliminary findings suggest that while the pandal had been cleared for safety, the sudden intensity of the rain and a lack of clear directional announcements contributed to the fatal bottleneck at the exit.

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