A stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata on Saptami killed 19 people and injured dozens. Police registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and sent seven accused to 10-day police custody.
What Happened at the Pandal
The stampede happened around 7.40 pm on Saturday, October 17, at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata. It took place on Saptami, amid heavy rain and a large gathering of visitors. Nineteen people died, and 24 were injured. Most of the dead were women and children.
Case Filed and Arrests Made
Kolkata Police registered a suo motu case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Twelve people, including organisers, were first detained for questioning. Seven were then arrested, including members of the organising committee. On Sunday, October 18, they were produced at Bankshall Court and sent to 10-day police custody.
Crowd Management Under Scrutiny
Investigators are examining possible lapses in crowd management, access control and safety arrangements. The heavy rain is also part of the probe, since it may have changed how the crowd moved and where people gathered. Police have not yet released a full account of how the crush began.
Government Response
The state government has decided to deploy nine Indian Police Service (IPS) officers who are experienced in Durga Puja crowd management. They will handle the festive rush across Kolkata for the rest of the festival.
A Familiar Pattern
India has a long record of deadly stampedes at religious gatherings, often blamed on weak enforcement of safety rules. After the 2024 Hathras tragedy, which killed 121 people, police also filed a culpable homicide case. In that case, the organisers had sought permission for 80,000 people, but around 250,000 turned up.
The custody period will give police time to question the organisers about permissions, entry and exit points, and the crowd limit on the night. Families of the victims are waiting for answers, and demands for stricter pandal safety checks are likely to grow.
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