At least 17 people have been killed and 25 others injured in a stampede at a Hindu religious gathering in Kolkata, eastern India, following sudden rainfall, officials have said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendhu Adhikari confirmed the deaths on Saturday, saying the victims included a seven-year-old girl. The incident occurred outside a pavilion during the Durga Puja festival.
“Six bodies have so far been identified,” Adhikari told reporters.
A senior police official at the scene told AFP that an announcement triggered confusion after rain began falling at night, causing people waiting outside the pavilion to push and rush forward.
The crowd reportedly lost its balance and fell, resulting in the stampede.
Stampedes remain a recurring problem at large gatherings in India, particularly religious festivals and public celebrations, where crowd management and safety lapses have contributed to fatalities.
Last year, a stampede at the Kumbh Mela religious festival killed 30 people and injured several others. In Bengaluru, 11 fans were crushed to death during celebrations after the local cricket team won its first Indian Premier League title.
Also in 2025, 36 people died in a stampede at a campaign rally organised by a popular actor-turned-politician in Tamil Nadu.
In 2024, 121 people were killed in a stampede during a Hindu religious gathering in Uttar Pradesh state.
