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Stampede at Kolkata's Award-Winning Chorbagan Durga Puja Pandal Tragic Incident Leaves Many Shaken
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News18•18-10-2026, 09:51
Stampede at Kolkata's Award-Winning Chorbagan Durga Puja Pandal Tragic Incident Leaves Many Shaken
- •A stampede occurred at Kolkata's Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal, which was recently declared 'Serar Sera' (Best of the Best) by the Bengal government.
- •The 91-year-old Chorbagan Sarbojonin Durgotsav Committee secured the third position in the state's most prestigious award category.
- •This year's unique theme for the pandal was 'Aarob', depicting Goddess Durga and devotees in a tranquil, meditative posture instead of the traditional warrior form.
- •The prestigious Devi-Durga Samman is awarded based on six evaluation levels including aesthetics, sculptural art, lighting, environment, social awareness, and crowd control.
Key Questions Answered
The stampede was triggered on Durga Saptami evening when a sudden downpour caused a massive rush of devotees attempting to enter and exit the narrow pandal pathways, creating chaotic conditions.
The 91-year-old Chorbagan Sarbojonin Durgotsav Committee secured the third position in the prestigious 'Serar Sera' award category, evaluated on aesthetics, creativity, lighting, crowd control, and social awareness.
The West Bengal government announced ₹25 lakh compensation and a government job for each family of those who lost their lives, alongside ₹5 lakh for the injured. Additionally, the Prime Minister announced ₹2 lakh from the PMNRF for families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.
