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Witnesses cite heavy rain, narrow gates and poor lighting as factors behind the deadly Kolkata Puja pandal stampede that claimed 17 lives.
Crowds gather amid chaotic scenes at Kolkata’s Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal, where a stampede-like situation claimed 17 lives on Saturday evening.
Narrow entry and exit points, heavy rain and a surge in weekend visitors were among the factors that led to a stampede at the Chorebagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata on Saturday evening, according to eyewitness accounts and police. The incident claimed 17 lives and left several others injured, multiple reports said.
Witnesses described scenes of panic as devotees struggled to move through the crowded, narrow lanes around the pandal. A local man, whose daughter and granddaughter were among those injured, said the lack of lighting and limited space made it difficult for people to move safely.
“The entrance was very narrow, and the exit gate was also narrow. There was no lighting in the area,” he told news agency IANS.
Kolkata, West Bengal: Following reports of a stampede-like situation at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal, an eye witness says, “…The entrance was very narrow, and the exit gate was also narrow. There was no lighting in the area….My daughter and grand daughter is hospitalized…”— IANS (@ians_india) October 17, 2026
Narrow Lanes, Darkness Added To Panic
The man said visitors had been waiting in a queue for around one-and-a-half hours to enter the pandal. With rain pouring down, people were in a hurry to get inside, adding to the pressure on the crowded entrance.
“There was a small girl and a boy. I also fell,” he said, describing how people lost their balance in the dark and narrow area.
He said he managed to get back on his feet but was frightened by what he saw next. According to him, several people had fallen on top of the children, leaving them trapped in the crowd.
“In that situation, there were no police or volunteers. There was nothing,” he added.
A section of the pandal was also reportedly said to have collapsed amid the chaos, further adding to the panic in the area.
Injured Rushed To Hospital
Another eyewitness told news agency ANI that several people lost consciousness as the crowd pressed together. Some of the injured were reportedly taken to hospital on motorcycles as people tried to get them medical help.
In a statement, Kolkata Police said the stampede occurred at around 7.40 pm near the exit gate of the Sarada Park (Chorebagan) Puja pandal, which falls under the Girish Park Police Station area.
The police attributed the incident to the heavy crowd of visitors during rainfall. They said all the injured had been rescued and taken to hospital.
Chorbagan Puja Pandal Has A Long History
The Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja is one of the older community pujas in north-central Kolkata. Located in the Chorebagan area near Ram Mandir on Muktaram Babu Street, it is part of the wider Hatibagan and Beadon Street neighbourhood.
The community puja is celebrating its 91st year this year, drawing devotees to the area during the annual Durga Puja festivities.
Quick Answers
Ask News18The stampede was triggered by a massive weekend crowd surge, heavy rainfall, narrow entry and exit gates, and poor lighting conditions around the Chorebagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal. The pressure of the crowd during the downpour caused people to lose their balance in the dark, leading to the tragic incident.
Ask News18About the Author
Pragya Bahuguna is a digital journalist at News18.com, covering national and international news, including Indian politics and geopolitics, with an interest in environment and climate affairs. She hol…Read More
October 17, 2026, 10:49 PM IST
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