A chaotic situation unfolded at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata on Saturday evening, as an overwhelming surge of devotees led to a stampede-like incident. According to local police, at least 35 individuals sustained injuries during the commotion, which occurred during the Saptami celebrations. The massive influx of visitors, coupled with oppressive heat, reportedly triggered widespread panic among the crowd, exacerbating the danger within the venue.
As the situation turned critical, some attendees reported that a section of the pandal structure suffered a partial collapse under the pressure of the surging crowd. While the exact sequence of events leading to the structural failure remains under investigation, the incident necessitated an immediate emergency response. Local authorities and puja organisers acted quickly to facilitate evacuations, while disaster management teams were deployed to the location to manage the gathering and secure the area.
All injured individuals were promptly transported to the Calcutta Medical College Hospital to receive urgent medical attention. In the immediate aftermath, officials ordered the temporary closure of the Chorbagan pandal to ensure public safety and to allow emergency services to clear the area. The West Bengal government has subsequently launched a toll-free helpline, 18003455678, to assist the families of the victims and provide official information regarding the status of those affected.
Senior government figures visited the hospital late Saturday to monitor the condition of the injured. Among those present at the medical facility were West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal, who coordinated with medical staff to ensure that the patients received necessary care. The swift arrival of state leadership and administration officials underscored the severity of the incident during one of the most significant cultural festivals in the region.
Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her grief regarding the event through a social media statement. In her message, she described being deeply shocked and saddened by the news from the Chorbagan pandal. She extended her prayers for the swift recovery of all the injured and offered words of support for the affected families as they navigate the aftermath of the crisis.
Durga Puja is known for attracting vast numbers of people to pandals across Kolkata, and local authorities typically implement elaborate security and crowd control measures. However, the density of crowds on Saptami, combined with environmental factors like heat, often creates significant logistical challenges. Reports indicate that rumours of a stampede circulating amidst the dense crowd further amplified the sense of alarm, leading to a rapid loss of order.
As of late Saturday, the situation at the pandal remained under the watch of law enforcement and disaster management agencies. Police are continuing to assess the site to determine the full extent of the structural damage and the specific circumstances that transformed a festive gathering into a medical emergency. Further updates from the administration are expected as the victims continue to receive treatment and the pandal remains cordoned off from the public.
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