From Malay Mail · · 1m 30s
Kolkata Stampede Death Toll Rises
Rain-triggered stampede at Kolkata Durga Puja festival leaves 19 dead, 25 injured.
In brief
Rain-triggered stampede at Kolkata Durga Puja festival leaves 19 dead, 25 injured. A stampede at Kolkata's Durga Puja festival killed 19 people and injured 25 after sudden rainfall. Originally reported by Malay Mail.
Kolkata stampede
At least 19 people died and 25 were injured in a stampede at a Hindu religious gathering in Kolkata, India, following sudden rainfall that caused panic among attendees.
West Bengal Chief Minister confirms deaths
West Bengal's Chief Minister Suvendhu Adhikari confirmed the fatalities and injuries at the Durga Puja festival, attributing the incident to commotion sparked by the rain.
Seven-year-old girl among dead
The fatalities included a seven-year-old girl, adding that 25 other people were injured outside a pavilion in a stampede at the Hindu festival of Durga Puja in Kolkata.
Police report on stampede cause
A senior police official at the scene told AFP an announcement caused "commotion" after it started raining at night and the "crowd waiting outside the pandal (pavilion) was pushing, pulling and rushing forward and fell…
Prime Minister expresses condolences
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences on social media, and the local government is providing assistance to affected families.
Death toll updated to 19
Adhikari originally announced 17 fatalities. The Press Trust of India (PTI) reported the death toll rose by two to 19, quoting Adhikari in a later statement.
CCTV review for accountability
Authorities are reviewing CCTV footage to determine accountability for crowd control failures.
The key point
A stampede at Kolkata's Durga Puja festival killed 19 people and injured 25 after sudden rainfall.
