On Saturday, October 17, 2026 at Chorbagan Durga Puja India Pandal in north Kolkata at least 19 women and children people lost their lives in the stampede while 25 were injured.
The injured had been rushed to Kolkata Medical College and Hospital where West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari visited them. He said that the state government would pay ₹25 lakh compensation to families of each of the deceased and a job in the Group D stream with the government.
Adhikari also reported that 19 people had died and 25 were receiving treatment due to the casualties. He further stated that police has detained private security guards and duty personnel at the Durga Puja and the organisers for questioning during the investigation.
The incident led to a response by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who said the stampede was “very distressing” and wished to assure them of his concern.
An ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the next of kin of deceased to be made, Modi announced. For any injured in the stampede, financial assistance will be paid in the tune of ₹50,000.
The Prime Minister also said the local administration was providing all possible assistance to the victims and their families.
The incident has raised the concerns of managing the crowd size as well as the steps taken for safety during Durga Puja celebrations. As the police investigate the circumstances, more details of the situation surrounding the stampede will be released.
Police are still trying to figure out exactly how the carnival turned trench and what are the likely sequence of events. The emphasis continues to be on the care of the injured, support to the family who were consoleries and the fault analyses of the accident.