Deadly Stampede Claims Lives at Hindu Festival in India
WHO:
ABC News - Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited Kolkata Medical College and Hospital where victims were taken.
ABC News - Police detained some pavilion organizers, private security personnel, and on-duty staff.
WHAT:
ABC News - In January of 2025, at least 30 people were killed during the Maha Kumbh festival when tens of thousands of Hindus rushed to bathe in a sacred river.
ABC News - In 2013, at a Hindu festival in Madhya Pradesh, at least 115 people were crushed to death or drowned amid fears that a bridge would collapse.
ABC News - A stampede during a major Hindu festival in Kolkata has killed at least 19 people.
ABC News - 25 people are receiving treatment following the stampede.
ABC News - An investigation by a Special Investigation Team will be headed by a judge of the state’s High Court.
ABC News - Authorities advised several of Kolkata’s most heavily attended venues to temporarily close to visitors.
BBC News - Many more have been injured at the event.
WHERE:
ABC News - The stampede occurred in Kolkata, West Bengal state, India.
ABC News - Around 3,500 Durga Puja pavilions, known locally as pandals, have been set up across Kolkata for the festival.
WHEN:
ABC News - The stampede happened Saturday night during the Durga Puja festival.
WHY:
ABC News - The stampede was triggered when a crowd near a pavilion ran for cover as it began raining.
HOW:
ABC News - Some worshippers fell on the road, which triggered the stampede.
ABC News - Crowd crushes are relatively common in India during religious festivals due to large crowds gathering in confined areas with few safety or crowd control measures.
(UPDATED October 18, 2026 07:55 UTC)
In January of 2025, at least 30 people lost their lives during the Maha Kumbh festival when tens of thousands of Hindus rushed to bathe in a sacred river. This tragic event echoes a similar disaster from 2013, when at least 115 people were killed at a Hindu festival in Madhya Pradesh due to a chaotic rush and fears of a bridge collapse. Both incidents highlight the dangers that can arise during large religious gatherings.
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(UPDATED October 18, 2026 04:57 UTC)
A tragic stampede during the Durga Puja festival in Kolkata has resulted in the deaths of at least 19 people, with 25 others receiving treatment for their injuries. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited the Kolkata Medical College and Hospital where the victims were taken, while police have detained several pavilion organizers and security personnel as part of an ongoing investigation led by a judge from the state’s High Court. Authorities have also advised a temporary closure of some of Kolkata’s busiest venues, as the stampede was triggered when worshippers rushed for cover from rain, leading to a crowd crush that is unfortunately common during large religious gatherings in India.