
A serious stampede occurred during a religious festival in West Bengal. Officials confirmed that at least 17 people were killed and many injured were sent to the hospital.
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Durga Puja is celebrated every year in West Bengal in October. In 2021, the festival in Kolkata was included in the UNESCO Intangible Heritage of Humanity list.
(Deutsche Welle Chinese website) According to news from Kolkata, India, a serious stampede occurred during a local religious festival. At least 17 people were killed and many injured were sent to the hospital.
The Hindu reported that West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had confirmed the death toll so far. According to reports, the accident occurred on the evening of Saturday (October 17) local time at the exit of a temporary building built for festival activities. At the time of the incident, a large number of people taking shelter from the rain gathered at the exit.
The Hindu quoted Chief Minister Adhikari as saying that a "misleading broadcast" had triggered panic among people. Further details are not yet known.
"India Today" quoted eyewitness reports as saying that after the crowding and stampede, many people lost consciousness, and some people were sent away from the scene on motorcycles.
Hindu goddess Durga festival
Every year from October 16th to 21st, West Bengal holds a large-scale celebration to commemorate the Hindu goddess Durga (Durga Puja). In 2021, Durga Puja in Kolkata was included in the UNESCO Intangible Heritage of Humanity list.
In the past few years, many major accidents have occurred at various large-scale celebrations in India. In January 2025, a stampede occurred during a large-scale pilgrimage celebration in the northern Indian city of Prayagraj, killing at least 30 people.

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