At Least 17 Dead in India Festival Crush
A deadly crush at a Hindu festival event in Kolkata, India, has resulted in at least 17 fatalities and numerous injuries.
At least 17 people have died and many more have been injured in a crush that occurred during the Durga Puja festival in Kolkata, India. Officials confirmed the fatalities, including a seven-year-old girl.
The incident unfolded during unexpected rainfall, which witnesses reported led to a surge of people attempting to find shelter. A senior police official told AFP that an announcement combined with the rain caused "commotion," leading the crowd to push and fall, resulting in the stampede.
West Bengal's Chief Minister Suvendhu Adhikari stated that 25 people were receiving treatment for injuries and that six of the deceased had been identified.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the event "tragic" and assured that the regional government was providing assistance to the affected families.
Deadly crowd incidents are unfortunately not uncommon in India, particularly during religious festivals, often attributed to inadequate safety measures and poor crowd management. In 2022, a similar incident at a Hindu religious gathering in Uttar Pradesh resulted in the deaths of 121 people.