7 Arrested After Kolkata Durga Puja Pandal Stampede Kills 19
- Nineteen people died and 25 were injured in a stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal.
- Seven individuals, including committee members and security staff, have been arrested by the Kolkata Police.
- The state government has announced ₹25 lakh compensation and a job for the families of the deceased.
- A Special Investigation Team headed by a sitting Calcutta High Court judge will probe the incident.
- The stampede occurred on Saturday evening amid heavy rain and a crowd surge at the pandal's exit gate.
A stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata resulted in 19 deaths and 25 injuries on Saturday, October 17, 2026. The incident occurred at approximately 7:40 pm at the exit gate of the pandal.
The tragedy unfolded amid heavy rain and a large crowd, with reports indicating a section of the temporary structure collapsed under the pressure of the surge. The site falls under the jurisdiction of the Girish Park police station.
Authorities are investigating the collapse of the temporary structure.
Seven organizers and staff arrested for negligence
Kolkata Police have arrested seven people in connection with the stampede at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal. The individuals taken into custody include members of the organizing committee, security agency representatives, and those involved in the construction of the structure.
The arrested committee members are secretary Raj Kumar Sewda and vice-president Santanu Dubey. Others detained include bamboo structure builder Biplab Mukherjee, crowd management in-charge staff Koushik Saha and Pintu Dey, and private security supervisors Suman Chakraborty and Rajesh Pal.
Police register case of culpable homicide
Police have registered a suo motu case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. This legal action follows the initial detention of 14 people on Saturday night.
From the 14 individuals detained, seven were formally arrested by law enforcement. The site of the stampede is currently being investigated by a Special Investigation Team and forensic teams.
SIT headed by high court judge to probe tragedy
The West Bengal government has formed a Special Investigation Team to probe the lapses that led to the tragedy. This team will be headed by a sitting judge of the Calcutta High Court.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari stated he will write to the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court to request a committee for a fact investigation.
State and central government announce compensation
The West Bengal government announced compensation of ₹25 lakh and a government job for the family of each deceased person. Injured victims will receive ₹5 lakh, with their medical costs covered by the state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased victim from the National Relief Fund. The Prime Minister announced ₹50,000 for each injured person.
Rain and structural pressure cited as contributing factors
The Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja is one of Kolkata's oldest and is located less than two kilometers from the Howrah Bridge. The 91st-year theme was AROB, a Bengali term meaning away from noise and sound.
Eyewitnesses reported that people seeking shelter from the rain rushed into a narrow lane, causing a chain reaction of slips and falls. Reports suggest a section of the temporary structure collapsed under crowd pressure.
Narrow lanes, rainfall, and an alleged announcement warning that the pandal might collapse if the crowd was not controlled contributed to the stampede.
Political leaders respond to crowd management failures
Union Home Minister Amit Shah postponed his Sunday programs in West Bengal to attend to the wounded and offered his condolences to the families of the deceased.
The Trinamool Congress questioned the adequacy of police deployment, ambulance services, and crowd management at the venue. The party stated that authorities must be held accountable.
Medical treatment and helpline established for victims
Injured victims were transported to the Calcutta Medical College and Hospital for treatment. The state government established a toll-free helpline, 18003455678, for the victims.
The process of identifying the bodies is currently underway. A post-mortem examination is scheduled to begin on Sunday.
Frequently Asked Questions
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