17 Killed in India Religious Festival Stampede

At least 17 people have been killed and 25 others injured following a stampede at a Hindu religious festival in Kolkata, eastern India, on Saturday, October 17, 2026.

The incident occurred at the Chorebagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pavilion in north Kolkata, where large crowds had gathered to celebrate Durga Puja, one of the most significant Hindu festivals.

According to reports by Reuters, AFP and NDTV, the stampede occurred at about 7:40 p.m. local time amid heavy rainfall and a large gathering of visitors near the pavilion’s exit.

Kolkata Police said the crowd surge happened as visitors gathered in the rain. Eyewitnesses also described narrow entry and exit passages and poor lighting in the area, which may have worsened the situation.

Emergency responders, including police officers, firefighters, disaster management personnel and medical teams, were deployed to rescue victims and transport the injured to hospital. Authorities subsequently closed the pavilion to visitors.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari confirmed the casualties, while reports indicated that a seven-year-old girl was among those killed.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sadness over the tragedy and extended condolences to the families of the victims.

He also announced financial assistance of ₹200,000 for the family of each deceased person and ₹50,000 for each injured victim.

Authorities are continuing to assess the incident, while further details about the circumstances surrounding the stampede remain subject to official clarification.