# Kolkata Durga Puja Stampede: 19 Dead, Rain, Mismanagement

> At least 19 die in Kolkata Durga Puja stampede as rain and crowd chaos trigger deadly crush.
- Title: Kolkata Durga Puja Stampede: 19 Dead, Rain, Mismanagement
- Summary: At least 19 die in Kolkata Durga Puja stampede as rain and crowd chaos trigger deadly crush. Heavy rain and overcrowding at Kolkata’s Chorbagan Durga Puja…
- Keywords: kolkata, durga puja, chorbagan pandal, saptami, rain, mismanagement, bhaipo, suvendu adhikari, bengal, west bengal, kolkata police, calcutta medical college
- Source: mint — https://livemint.com/news/india/19-dead-in-kolkata-durga-puja-stampede-several-injured-rain-mismanagement-bhaipo-and-more-what-we-know-so-far-11792286964957.html
- Author: Sounak Mukhopadhyay
- Published: 2026-10-18T01:38:13+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: kolkata, durga puja, chorbagan pandal, saptami, rain, mismanagement, bhaipo, suvendu adhikari, bengal, west bengal, kolkata police, calcutta medical college
## Stampede Death Toll
At least 19 people reportedly died in a stampede at Kolkata’s Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal on Saptami evening.
## Time and Location
The incident happened around 7:40 PM near the pandal’s exit gate in Girish Park police station area.
## Weather and Crowds
Heavy rain and growing crowds were reported before the tragedy, causing visitors to rush into the pandal.
## Immediate Response
Police closed the pandal to visitors after the incident and rescued injured people to Calcutta Medical College and Hospital.
## Eyewitness Accounts
Visitors said heavy rain intensified before more people entered, leading to pushing and injuries.
## Organiser and Police Absence
Organisers and police were absent, causing visitors to push each other and shout while falling ill.
## Compensation Details
The state government announced ₹25 lakh for each deceased family, a Group D job for one family member, and ₹5 lakh for each injured person.
## Central Government Aid
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced ₹2 lakh for each deceased person’s next of kin and ₹50,000 for each injured person.
## Bhaipo Political Allegations
The Trinamool Congress questioned BJP links, noting chief minister’s nephew Debadeep Adhikari as the puja committee chairman.
## Political Impact
Mamata Banerjee’s party accused the chief minister of having no shame and demanded his resignation.
## Investigation Ordered
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the incident and CCTV footage.
## Key takeaway

Heavy rain and overcrowding at Kolkata’s Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal caused a stampede killing at least 19 people, with state and central governments announcing compensation for victims.