The preliminary postmortem report on the 19 people killed in the Durga Puja’s Saptami night stampede at Chorabagan in north Kolkata has revealed disturbing details of the devastating impact of the crowd crush. At least eight victims suffered fractured ribs, with broken bones piercing their lungs and causing severe internal injuries. Others died of traumatic asphyxia, head injuries and brain haemorrhages, according to police sources.

Among the 19 deceased are 13 women and a seven-year-old child. The findings have brought into sharp focus the intensity of the crowd pressure that turned the festive gathering into a tragedy on Saturday night.

According to police sources familiar with the preliminary autopsy findings, at least eight victims sustained multiple rib fractures under the enormous pressure exerted by the crowd. In several cases, the fractured bones punctured the lungs, resulting in critical internal injuries.

The report also mentions ruptured lungs, fractures of the upper and lower limbs, and severe damage to internal organs. Some victims suffered kidney injuries, while others sustained serious head trauma that triggered intracranial bleeding and brain haemorrhages.

The nature and extent of the injuries suggest that several victims were subjected to extreme physical compression during the stampede, leaving them with little chance of escaping the crush.

Seven died of traumatic asphyxia

The preliminary findings indicate that at least seven people died from asphyxiation caused by intense crowd pressure.

Medical experts describe this condition as traumatic asphyxia, which occurs when severe external compression of the chest and upper body prevents normal breathing and impedes the return of blood to the heart. The resulting oxygen deprivation can prove fatal within minutes.

Investigators believe the victims were trapped in such tightly packed conditions that the pressure on their bodies made normal respiration impossible.

The seven-year-old child who died in the tragedy also suffered multiple injuries. The preliminary postmortem report identified asphyxiation as the cause of the child’s death.

Autopsies conducted at three medical colleges

Postmortem examinations of 17 victims were conducted at the police morgue of Calcutta Medical College. The seven-year-old child’s autopsy was performed at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, while the remaining victim’s body was examined at Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital.

Following the examinations and identification by family members, the bodies were handed over to their relatives.

The deceased included residents of Kolkata and several other districts of West Bengal, besides visitors who had travelled from other states to participate in the Durga Puja festivities.

The death toll from the Saturday night stampede at Chorabagan has reached 19, while 25 others sustained injuries. Of the injured, one remains in critical condition.

The tragedy, which unfolded during the Saptami celebrations, has raised serious questions about crowd management and safety arrangements at heavily attended Durga Puja gatherings.

The preliminary medical findings indicate that the victims suffered not merely from falls or trampling but also from the crushing pressure of the crowd, which caused extensive skeletal and internal organ damage.

Fact-finding committee formed, CCTV footage under scrutiny

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced the formation of a fact-finding committee to investigate the circumstances leading to the tragedy.

The Chief Minister has asserted that those found responsible for the incident will not be spared.

Police sources said investigators have already obtained CCTV footage of the incident. The recordings are being examined to reconstruct the sequence of events and determine how the crowd crush developed.

Further action will be initiated on the basis of the footage and the findings of the investigation, sources said.

The preliminary postmortem findings are expected to form a crucial part of the investigation as authorities seek to establish the circumstances that led to one of the deadliest tragedies of this year’s Durga Puja celebrations.

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