Stampede at Kolkata Durga Puja Festival Kills 19 as Panic Erupts in Rain

Kolkata Durga Puja celebration crowd

A night of celebration turned into tragedy in Kolkata on Saturday when a stampede near a Durga Puja festival pavilion left at least 19 people dead. The deadly crush happened as huge crowds celebrating the Hindu festival suddenly ran for cover when heavy rain hit the area, turning packed lanes into chaos.

Police have arrested seven people, including some of the event's organisers, and a special investigation team has been formed to find out exactly what went wrong. Officials are looking into whether poor crowd control and a lack of emergency exits made the disaster worse. The incident has shocked West Bengal, where Durga Puja draws some of the largest street gatherings in the country every year.

Stampedes at crowded religious festivals remain one of India's most recurring safety crises, and this latest tragedy is already sparking demands for stricter rules on crowd limits and rain contingency plans. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and more arrests could follow.

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