Durga Puja pandal stampede: 17 dead, 15 injured; PM announces Rs 2 L ex-gratia for kin of deceased

Seventeen people died and 15 were injured in a stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said, according to PTI. The incident occurred after rain prompted people waiting outside the pandal to rush inside, triggering a stampede-like situation. The injured were shifted to hospitals for treatment, according to ANI. An eyewitness said several people lost consciousness amid the massive crowd, with some being taken away on motorcycles.“Many people lost consciousness; some were being taken on motorcycles. I witnessed this happening all around. When people fainted, they were taken away on bikes. All of this took place, and there was a massive crowd as well,” the eyewitness said.