A video has emerged depicting the moment a stampede occurred at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata on the evening of October 18, 2026, leading to the deaths of 19 individuals. The 49-second clip, recorded by a participant, illustrates a chaotic scene where numerous people were trapped within a narrow, low-roofed, barricaded passage.

The footage shows women and children in distress, crying for assistance as they were packed closely together, leaving no room for movement. Some individuals were seen attempting to grip the walls to prevent themselves from falling.

Another video circulating online shows a large crowd rushing into the pandal, with many participants running while holding umbrellas due to the rain. The stampede reportedly occurred around 7:40 pm during heavy rainfall at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal, which is known to attract significant crowds on Saptami, the seventh day of the ten-day Hindu festival.

Among the deceased, 13 were women and two were minors. Additionally, at least 25 others sustained injuries, with three individuals requiring admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and one person reported to be in critical condition.

Response from Authorities

In the aftermath of the incident, police have arrested seven individuals, including members of the organising committee, following a suo motu case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Those apprehended include Raj Kumar Sewda, Secretary of the Chorbagan Durga Puja committee, and Vice President Santanu Dubey. Others arrested include Biplab Mukherjee, involved in the construction of the bamboo structure, as well as Koushik Saha and Pintu Dey, who were responsible for crowd management, and private security personnel Suman Chakraborty and Rajesh Pal.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari stated that an announcement made by the organisers may have triggered the rush among attendees. He conveyed this information to reporters after visiting the injured at Kolkata Medical College and Hospital. The specifics of the announcement made over the loudspeaker remain unclear.

Reports from family members of two victims suggest that a whistle blown by private security guards in the pandal area may have contributed to the panic and subsequent rush among the crowd.

Safety Measures and Temporary Closures

In light of the tragic events, Chief Minister Adhikari has urged all theme-based Durga Puja organisers to ensure proper lighting and adequate entry and exit points at their venues. He highlighted that many pandals are poorly lit under the guise of thematic decoration, emphasising that “lives of people are more valuable than themes.” He called for adherence to safety recommendations from authorities to prevent such incidents in the future.

Following the stampede, several major Durga Puja organisers in Kolkata have been instructed to temporarily close their pandals. Notable celebrations such as ‘Tala Pratyay’, ‘Alipore Sarbojanin’, ‘Chetla Agrani’, and ‘Ballygunge Sarbojonin’ have been asked to halt entry for visitors, as reported by the news agency PTI.

Currently, approximately 3,500 Durga Pujas are being held across the city, and the administration is taking measures to ensure the safety of attendees in the wake of this incident.

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