Kolkata: Nineteen people were killed and 25 others injured in a stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata on Saturday (October 17) evening.
Heavy rain, a surge of visitors and narrow entry and exit gates are among the factors investigators are investigating. Preliminary information also suggested that an announcement and whistles used by a private security agency may have contributed to the rush.
The dead included 13 women and a child, according to reports. The incident took place around 7.40 pm on Saptami, one of the busiest days of the Durga Puja festival.
The Kolkata Police said the stampede occurred near the exit gate in the Girish Park police station area because of heavy crowding during rain. The pandal was evacuated and closed to visitors, while police teams, fire brigade personnel, disaster management staff and medical teams were sent to the site.
The precise sequence of events is still under investigation.
