KOLKATA, India — The death toll from a stampede during a Hindu religious festival in Kolkata, India, has risen to 19, with around 35 others injured, according to updated reports on Sunday, October 18, 2026.
The tragedy occurred at approximately 7:40 p.m. on Saturday, October 17, at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pavilion near Girish Park in North Kolkata, where thousands of devotees had gathered for the annual religious celebration.
According to Kolkata Police, heavy rainfall and overcrowding triggered chaos near the venue’s exit gate as devotees rushed through the area.
Witnesses reported narrow entry and exit points, inadequate lighting, and intense crowd pressure that contributed to the deadly incident.
Emergency responders, including police, firefighters, and disaster management personnel, rushed to the scene and transported injured victims to nearby hospitals.
Authorities subsequently closed the festival pavilion to visitors while investigations into the incident continued.
Following the tragedy, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the victims’ families and announced financial assistance through the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
Under the assistance package, families of those who died will receive 200,000 Indian rupees each, while injured individuals will receive 50,000 rupees.
Meanwhile, the West Bengal government announced additional compensation of 2.5 million rupees and a government job for the family of each deceased victim.
Authorities also announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team to determine the circumstances surrounding the stampede and examine possible lapses in crowd management and safety measures.
Several officials of the festival organizing committee have reportedly resigned following the incident.
The tragedy has raised concerns over crowd control and public safety during major religious gatherings in India, particularly at venues attracting thousands of visitors.
