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Kolkata Durga Puja festival stampede

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2026-10-23 06:23 UTC → 2026-10-23 07:15 UTC · added ~~removed~~

A fatal stampede occurred on October 17 at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata. Triggered by heavy rainfall and a commotion following an announcement, the incident resulted in at least 19 deaths, including a seven-year-old girl, and left between 25 and 40 people injured. In response, the West Bengal government has established a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a comprehensive inquiry. Headed by retired Calcutta High Court Judge Anindita Roy Saraswati, the SIT will examine permissible footfall, entry and exit routes, CCTV footage, and the preparedness of organizers and emergency services. The team, which includes representatives from the Special Task Force and the National Disaster Response Force, is directed to submit its findings within three months to help shape future safety regulations for 2027. To manage ongoing festival risks, the health department has deployed specialized medical teams, including neurosurgeons and anaesthetists, to five major pandals. The leaves of doctors, health workers, and administrative officials, including IAS officers, have been cancelled to ensure full emergency coverage. Financial aid has been pledged by both the central and state governments. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced 200,000 rupees for the families of the deceased, while the West Bengal government has pledged 2.5 million rupees and a government job for a member of each victim's family. Preliminary autopsy findings indicate that traumatic asphyxia caused by chest compression was the likely cause of death for most victims. On October 22, police arrested Sanjib Raha, also known as Sentu, the treasurer of the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal. Authorities allege that Raha was one of two individuals who made false announcements claiming a section of the pandal was collapsing, which triggered the panic. ~~Raha was apprehended in the Nadia district after being on the run.~~

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