Stories
Kolkata Chorbagan Pandal Stampede: 19 Dead, 7 Arrested, 9 IPS Officers Deployed
- •A devastating stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata during Maha Saptami resulted in 19 deaths and 25 severe injuries.
- •Police arrested 7 main culprits, including puja committee office-bearers and contractors, who have been sent to 10 days of police custody.
- •The West Bengal government deployed a super team of 9 senior IPS officers to personally monitor security and manage crowds at major puja pandals.
- •Chief Minister announced the possible permanent abolition of VIP gate culture and demanded a high-level fact-finding committee from the Calcutta High Court.
- •The government announced Rs 25 lakh compensation and a government job for each deceased person's family, along with Rs 5 lakh for the severely injured.
Key Questions Answered
On the evening of Maha Saptami on October 17, 2026, heavy rainfall caused crowds to rush into the narrow pandal for shelter. Panic escalated after an announcement warned that the structure might collapse, triggering a heavy crush and trampling that left 19 people dead and 25 injured.
Kolkata Police arrested seven main individuals, including the puja committee's general secretary, vice-president, the structure contractor, and security organizers. A local court remanded all seven accused to 10 days of strict police custody for failing to manage crowds and flouting safety standards.
The West Bengal government announced a compensation of Rs 25 lakh along with a government job for one family member of each deceased person, and Rs 5 lakh for each seriously injured person. Additionally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the PMNRF for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
