Stampede at Hindu Festival in India Leaves 19 Dead, 25 Injured

Crowds surged amid sudden rain, causing a stampede
Police detain 10, including event organizers
Stampedes recur at events in India every year

A stampede at a Hindu festival in eastern India killed 19 people and injured 25 after sudden rain caused crowds to surge.

According to major foreign media outlets, including AFP and China's state-run Xinhua News Agency, a stampede occurred on Saturday at a Durga Puja festival venue in Kolkata, West Bengal. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said that a 7-year-old girl was among the dead and that one of the injured was in critical condition.

A senior local police official told AFP, "Panic broke out after it started raining at night. People pushed and pulled one another and surged forward, then fell to the ground, causing the stampede."

An injured victim of the stampede in Kolkata, India, is transported to a hospital. Yonhap News Agency.

The Indian Express reported that footage taken before the accident showed a large crowd gathered in an area with a narrow passage that could accommodate only a few people at a time.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on social media, "This is truly distressing," and added, "I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families."

Indian police have obtained security camera footage from the venue and detained 10 people, including event organizers and private security personnel, as they investigate the circumstances of the accident. Chief Minister Adhikari said, "There were some shortcomings in the event organizers' preparations. Anyone found to have been negligent will face legal action."

Durga Puja, which honors the Hindu goddess Durga, is Kolkata's largest local festival. During the festival, many devotees gather at temporary structures called pandals, which house images of the goddess.

Stampedes continue to occur at religious events and public places in India that draw large crowds. In January last year, more than 30 people died in a stampede at Kumbh Mela, the world's largest religious festival. In June of the same year, tens of thousands of people gathered for a celebration honoring a cricket championship-winning team, leaving 11 dead and around 40 injured.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.