Kolkata Festival Stampede Kills at Least 17, Dozens Injured
A crowd crush at a Durga Puja festival venue in Kolkata, West Bengal, killed at least 17 people and injured dozens, according to local media reports on October 17, 2026. The incident occurred at an exit gate in the Girish Park area as large numbers of devotees attempted to leave the venue.
Heavy rainfall reportedly led to overcrowding, creating difficulties as people tried to exit the festival site. Durga Puja is a major annual Hindu festival that attracts large crowds to temporary structures known as pandals, where idols of Goddess Durga are displayed.
Following the incident, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office announced compensation of ₹2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased person and ₹50,000 for each injured person. The incident has raised concerns about crowd management and public safety at large religious gatherings.
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