Brief

Stampede at Kolkata Durga Puja pandal kills 17, injures 35

Police say the crowd crush at the exit gate of the Chorbagan pandal occurred at 7:40 p.m. amid heavy rain.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sun, 18 Oct 2026 04:49:14 GMT

A stampede-like crush at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata on Saturday evening left at least 17 people dead and around 35 injured, according to police and local reports.

What happened

The incident unfolded at about 7:40 p.m. at the exit gate of the pandal, which is located in the Sarada Park area under Girish Park police station. Heavy crowds of pandal visitors were gathered as rain intensified, triggering a sudden surge that caused people to fall and be trampled. Emergency services rushed the injured to the nearby Medical College Hospital (MCH), where all 35 patients received treatment.

What the reports add

DNA India cited an ANI tweet confirming the death toll of 17 and the number of injured as 35. The outlet also noted that the pandal has been closed to visitors following the tragedy. No further details on the identities of the victims were released.

What was said

Union Home Minister Amit Shah posted on his X account that he has postponed all scheduled programmes in West Bengal in light of the incident. The statement was reported by DNA India.

How it came about

Earlier this week, heavy monsoon rains caused fatalities and injuries across the region, including 65 deaths in Punjab, Pakistan. The ongoing rain may have contributed to the crowded conditions at the pandal. Felo News previously covered related safety concerns at large religious gatherings, such as the Mumbai Ganesh Festival tragedy on 20 September 2026, highlighting the need for stricter crowd‑control measures.

Key facts

The stampede occurred at 7:40 p.m. at the exit gate of the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal. (dnaindia.com)
Seventeen people were confirmed dead and about 35 injured. (dnaindia.com)
All injured were taken to Medical College Hospital for treatment. (dnaindia.com)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah postponed his West Bengal programmes after the incident. (dnaindia.com)