Police rushed to Chorbagan after the crush, rescuing survivors while 19 bodies were recovered amid the chaos.
The venue, a perennial crowd magnet, had seen tight squeezes in the past; this year the footfall was even heavier, prompting the police to cut off entry twice before the incident.
Arnan Ghosh, secretary of the Dujo committee, told reporters that their community puja never adopts theme‑based displays because the cramped space makes crowd control nearly impossible.
The tragedy echoes a 2018 event when heavy rain and dense crowds forced police to reroute visitors to prevent a stampede.
Former General Secretary Jayanta Banerjee, who stepped down after 12 years, said he was not involved this year and could not assign blame.
Kolkata Police had convened a safety meeting with puja committees a month before the festival, but the incident raises questions about the effectiveness of that coordination.
An official inquiry has been opened, and the city will review its crowd‑management protocols before the next Durga Puja season.