A stampede at the Chorebagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata on Saturday night, October 17, 2026, killed 17 people and left dozens injured. The crush erupted as crowds surged toward the narrow exit gate around 7:40 p.m. Police recorded the incident amid pouring rain and a 1.5‑hour queue that had built outside the pandal.
A local resident, whose daughter and granddaughter were among those hurt, described the scene: 'The entrance was very narrow, the exit even narrower, and there was no lighting in the area.' He added that the rain had forced people to move quickly, causing the panic.
A senior police officer said the stampede began when the crowd, rushing toward the exit, fell on the wet road. 'Some fell and were trampled,' he recalled, noting that the narrow lane and lack of illumination contributed to the chaos.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal visited the hospital to assess the situation. Former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee posted a message on X, urging recovery for the injured and expressing shock at the tragedy.
Police have opened an inquiry to examine the conditions that led to the fatal crush, including the design of the gates and the absence of emergency lighting.