A sudden stampede at a Hindu religious gathering in Kolkata, India, resulted in at least 17 deaths and over 35 injuries. The incident occurred during the Durga Puja festival, a major religious celebration in the city. Authorities confirmed that the chaos was triggered by unexpected rainfall, which caused a surge of people to seek shelter.
Emergency services were overwhelmed by the number of casualties, with many trapped in the crowd. Police reported that the stampede took place in a densely packed area, where people were moving toward a shelter. At least one child was among the fatalities. The event unfolded in the north Kolkata region of West Bengal state.
This is the second major stampede in the city this year. Last month, a similar incident during a religious gathering left 12 people dead. Both events have raised concerns about crowd management and safety protocols during large public festivals. Officials are investigating the cause of the recent incident and reviewing emergency response strategies.
The Durga Puja festival, which honors the goddess Durga, attracts millions of participants annually. The stampede highlights the risks associated with large gatherings in unpredictable weather conditions. Local authorities have called for stricter crowd control measures and better coordination between event organizers and emergency services.
