At Least 17 Killed in Kolkata Crowd Crush During Durga Puja Event
· India · BBC News, Times of India, Telegraph India
At least 17 people were killed and many more injured in a crush at a Durga Puja festival event in Kolkata on Thursday after sudden rainfall caused a surge of people seeking shelter. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendhu Adhikari said a seven-year-old girl was among the dead and that 25 people were being treated for injuries. Six of the dead have been identified so far. A senior police official told AFP that an announcement made after the rain started caused commotion, leading to pushing, pulling, and rushing that resulted in the stampede. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as tragic and said the regional government was providing help to affected families. The article notes that deadly crowd incidents during religious festivals are not uncommon in India due to poor management and lack of adequate safety precautions.
Why it matters
Families of the victims, including a seven-year-old girl, have lost loved ones in a preventable tragedy during a major religious festival. The incident highlights ongoing safety concerns at large public gatherings in India, particularly during religious events where crowds are poorly managed.
Read the original report — BBC News
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