Saturday, October 17, 2026

At Least 17 Dead, 25 Injured in Stampede at Religious Festival in India

October 17, 2026 0 Abu Ramadan

At least 17 people have died and 25 others sustained injuries following a stampede at a Hindu religious festival in Kolkata, West Bengal State, eastern India.

The incident occurred on Saturday evening, October 17, 2026, at a temporary religious pavilion set up for the annual Durga Puja festival, which attracts thousands of worshippers.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari confirmed the casualties, revealing that a seven-year-old girl was among those who lost their lives. He added that six of the victims had been identified as of the time of reporting.

According to police, the stampede occurred amid heavy rainfall and a large gathering of devotees visiting the festival venue.

A senior police officer told the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency that an announcement triggered confusion among the crowd after the rain began. People waiting outside the pavilion reportedly started pushing and rushing forward, causing several individuals to fall and triggering the deadly incident.

The injured victims were subsequently taken to nearby hospitals for medical attention.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sadness over the tragedy and extended his condolences to the families of the deceased.

In a statement shared on X, Modi said the West Bengal government was providing assistance to the affected families and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

The prime minister's office also announced financial compensation of 200,000 Indian rupees (approximately $2,106) for the families of each deceased victim, while those injured would receive 50,000 rupees (approximately $527) each.

Interior Minister Amit Shah said the authorities were working to ensure that the injured received the necessary medical care.

Deadly stampedes have occurred repeatedly at major public gatherings across India, particularly during religious festivals and other large events, with overcrowding and inadequate crowd management frequently identified as contributing factors.

In 2025, a stampede at the Kumbh Mela religious gathering killed 30 people, while 11 people died during celebrations in Bengaluru following a local cricket team's first Indian Premier League title.

Earlier incidents include a stampede at a political campaign rally in Tamil Nadu that claimed 36 lives and a Hindu religious gathering in Uttar Pradesh in 2024, where 121 people were killed.

The latest tragedy has renewed concerns about crowd control and public safety at large religious gatherings in India.