Kolkata, 17 October (H.S.): A major tragedy struck the Durga Puja festivities in West Bengal on the evening of Maha Saptami when a sudden stampede and massive crowd surge occurred at Kolkata's renowned Chorbagan Sarbojanin puja pandal, leaving several revellers critically injured. According to preliminary reports, at least 15 individuals were rushed to the Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital, with several of them reportedly unconscious. Authorities fear that the number of injured could rise further.

Upon receiving the news, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari arrived directly at the hospital to take stock of the situation and interact with the victims.

The mishap occurred amidst sudden heavy downpours across North and Central Kolkata on Saturday evening, which had already triggered massive traffic snarls on major thoroughfares. Eyewitnesses reported that in a desperate bid to take shelter from the rain, hundreds of devotees waiting in queues attempted to push into the pandal at once. The sudden influx led to severe jostling and pushing, quickly devolving into a stampede-like situation inside the enclosure.

According to sources, the design of the Chorbagan pandal featured a circular elevated corridor requiring visitors to complete a 360-degree circuit to reach the exit. Initial findings suggest that the incident took place on this very corridor, where multiple people fell following intense jostling from the surging crowd. Some alternative reports have also pointed to the possible structural collapse of a portion of the pandal framework. As a precautionary measure, the organizers have turned off the lights and sealed the exit gates of the pandal.

The incident sparked anger among eyewitnesses, with many alleging that neither the police nor security personnel arrived in time and that cries for help went unheeded during the immediate aftermath.

Bikash Das, one of the primary organizers of the puja, stated that the exact cause of the disaster remains unclear and that their primary focus remains on rescue and relief operations. He stated that shifting the injured to the hospital is their top priority and that police and fire services teams are arriving at the site, adding that it is too early to conclusively confirm whether a structural fault or purely a crowd stampede caused the tragedy.

Notably, Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durgotsav Samiti had conceptualized its 2026 presentation around the theme 'Arav' (translated into English as 'Beyond Sound'), aimed at conveying a philosophical message of moving beyond words into the depths of silence. To bring this artistic concept to life, the committee had erected the elaborate 360-degree elevated corridor, which tragically turned into the epicenter of the catastrophe. A detailed administrative investigation and large-scale rescue measures remain underway.------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh