A stampede on Saturday night during the popular Hindu festival in Kolkata has left at least 19 dead and 25 injured. The chaos at a pavilion in the northern part of the city broke out after it started raining and people ran for cover, local police reported. A special task force probe will be conducted, the Chief Minister’s Office of West Bengal said in a post on X, adding that top officials are monitoring the situation. The office initially reported a death toll of 17, while the Press Trust of India later confirmed it had increased to 19.
The state government announced compensation of 2.5 million rupees ($26,328) and a job for each of the victims’ families. Seven people including the event’s organizers have been arrested, and more may be made, a senior police officer said.
Thousands of such pavilions, or pandals, are set up annually to celebrate the 10-day festival in the city, drawing millions of visitors. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the loss of lives.
Source: Bloomberg Markets · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing