Crush at Kolkata Hindu festival kills at least 17 people

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 17 Oct, 21:32 · Archive

At least 17 people have died in a crush at a religious festival in Kolkata, India.

A crush at a religious festival in eastern India has killed at least 17 people and injured dozens. The incident occurred at the exit gate of a Durga Puja celebration in Kolkata's Girish Park area on October 16 to 21, when heavy rain caused overcrowding as large numbers of devotees attempted to leave the venue.

Durga Puja is a multi-day annual Hindu festival in West Bengal that draws huge crowds to temporary structures known as pandals, which house idols of the goddess Durga. According to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, panic broke out among the crowd after a misleading announcement. Eyewitnesses reported that numerous visitors lost consciousness in the crush, with some taken away on motorbikes.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office announced compensation payments: 200,000 rupees (approximately $A3,000) for the next of kin of those who died and 50,000 rupees each for those injured.

How it is being reported

• Religious festival crush in Kolkata kills 17: reportsAt least 17 people have been killed and several others injured in a stampede at a religious festival in Kolkata in India, news reports say.Perth Now · 17 Oct, 20:55
• Religious festival crush in Kolkata kills 17: reportsAt least 17 people have been killed and several others injured in a stampede at a religious festival in Kolkata in India, news reports say.The West Australian · 17 Oct, 20:55

In this story: Kolkata · West Bengal · Durga Puja · Suvendu Adhikari · Narendra Modi

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem