At least 17 people died and about 25 others were injured on Saturday after a stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in central Kolkata.
All doctors were called in for emergency duty after the Durga Puja stampede took place amid sudden rain, when people inside the pandal were not coming out, after which those outside reportedly tried to enter the venue, resulting in a stampede.
The injured have been rushed to the Calcutta Medical College and Hospital. Fire tenders and a Disaster Management Group (DMG) of the Kolkata Police were rushed to the spot, in addition to ambulances and medical teams.
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari, who visited the hospital with Health Minister Sharadwat Mukherjee and Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal, is holding an emergency meeting to take stock of the situation, and to examine whether more doctors and facilities from other hospitals need to be brought in to assist the injured.
The incident took place at around 7:40 PM at the exit gate of the Sarada Park in Chorbagan, within the limits of the Girish Park Police Station.
"What I heard was that there had been some announcement made at the pandal, and then a whistle was blown, which led to this stampede," West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari told local media.
Confirming the death toll, he noted that members of the pandal authority were all detained at the police station after the "painful" incident.
"The puja committees should follow police instructions and also increase (the number of) exit and entry gates," he added.
The Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal is now closed to visitors. The West Bengal government has also notified a toll-free number, 1800-3455678, for queries and concerns related to the Chorbagan tragedy.
"I pray to Maa Durga for the speedy recovery of all those injured and for strength and courage for their families during this difficult time," former West Bengal CM and MAITC supremo Mamata Banerjee wrote in an X post, condoling the deaths.
"I am deeply heartbroken by the tragic stampede incident at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata, resulting in the loss of many precious lives," West Bengal Governor R.N. Ravi wrote in an X post.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who had arrived in Kolkata on Saturday evening, cancelled all his programmes for tomorrow, which included visits to Puja pandals and the Belur Math.
"I have spoken with Chief Minister Shri Suvendu Adhikari about this matter. I pray for the peace of the souls of those who have lost their lives in this tragic accident and extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved family members," he wrote on X, promising swift action.
An eyewitness later told IANS that the entrance and exit to the pandal were "very narrow".
"There was no lighting in the area ... My daughter and granddaughter have been hospitalised," he added.
The Mamata-led MAITC also brought up similar points, lashing out at the state government over "grave lapses" in handling the event.
"No police, no civic volunteers, no ambulances, no crowd management! This is what local residents are stating in the wake of the tragic stampede at Chorbagan Puja pandal administration must answer for these grave lapses ... Public safety cannot be treated so casually," the party wrote on X.
With inputs from Prema Rajaram
