Crowd crush at Indian festival leaves 19 dead

At least 19 people died and 25 were injured in a crowd crush at a Hindu religious festival in Kolkata.

The incident occurred on the evening of 17/10 at the Hindu Durga Puja festival in Kolkata, eastern India.

A senior Indian police official at the scene told AFP that an announcement made as rain began to fall caused chaos. "The crowd waiting outside pushed, surged forward, and fell, leading to the crowd crush," the official said.

Relatives of victims outside the hospital emergency room in Kolkata on 17/10. *Photo: AFP*

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendhu Adhikari initially reported 17 fatalities, including a 7-year-old girl. "So far, 6 bodies have been identified," he stated. News agency PTI later quoted Adhikari, saying the death toll had risen to 19.

At least 25 people were injured and transported to hospitals.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sorrow after the crowd crush. "I extend my condolences to the bereaved families. I wish a speedy recovery to the injured. The West Bengal state government is providing all necessary assistance to the affected families," he wrote on social media.

Wallets and personal belongings on the floor of a worship site after the crowd crush in Kolkata, India, on 17/10. *Photo: AP*

Police have seized security camera footage and will take action against those responsible for inadequate crowd control.

According to Indian Express, video footage recorded before the crowd crush showed people queuing to enter tents in an area with narrow alleys, wide enough for only a few individuals to pass simultaneously.

Deadly accidents frequently occur at crowded events in India, particularly religious festivals.

Last year, a crowd crush at India's Kumbh Mela religious fair killed 30 people and injured many others. Additionally, 11 fans were crushed to death in Bengaluru during celebrations for a local cricket team's first Indian Premier League championship.