At least 19 dead and 25 hurt in stampede at India religious gathering
Deadly crowd incidents are a frequent occurrence at Indian mass events, such as religious festivals, due to poor management and safety lapses.
At least nineteen individuals lost their lives and around twenty-five others sustained injuries during a tragic stampede that unfolded at a Hindu religious festival in Kolkata, India. The disaster occurred due to sudden rainfall during the Durga Puja celebrations in the city. West Bengal's Chief Minister, Suvendhu Adhikari, informed reporters that a seven-year-old girl was among the fatalities, along with the 25 others who were harmed outside a pavilion.
Adhikari stated that six bodies had been identified thus far. A senior police official revealed that an announcement caused panic after the onset of rain at night, leading to a chaotic scene as the crowd rushed and pushed, resulting in the stampede. Emergency responders were seen transporting injured individuals, including a police officer, on stretchers to a nearby hospital.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences in a brief social media update, assuring the bereaved families of their support and wishing the injured a swift recovery. The West Bengal government pledged to provide all possible assistance to the affected families. Initially, Adhikari reported seventeen fatalities, but this number was later revised to nineteen by the Press Trust of India (PTI).
Nine deceased bodies have been returned to their respective families, and authorities are planning to take action against those seen on CCTV footage who may have failed in their duty to manage the crowd effectively.
Indians have often witnessed such incidents at large gatherings due to poor management and safety measures. Last year, a stampede at the Kumbh Mela religious fair claimed thirty lives and left numerous others injured. Additionally, eleven fans died and several others were hurt when a crowd surged during celebrations for a local cricket team's first Indian Premier League title win in Bengaluru.
Another incident occurred in Tamil Nadu in the same year, where forty people were crushed to death at a campaign rally of a popular actor-turned-politician. In the current year, 121 individuals tragically perished during a Hindu religious gathering in northern Uttar Pradesh.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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