Kolkata stampede: Death in the time of Durga Puja
On October 17, a stampede broke out at a Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata, claiming 19 lives. The pandal, erected in a narrow space with dim lighting, was filled with people soon after it started raining. Shrabana Chatterjee and Shiv Sahay Singh report on the lapses that led to the tragedy and the questions it has raised about accountability in West Bengal, where the new government’s first Durga Puja celebrations have been marred by controversy
· 10/23/2026, 9:56:03 PM· 2 min read
On October 17, a stampede broke out at a Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata, claiming 19 lives. The pandal, erected in a narrow space with dim lighting, was filled with people soon after it started raining. Shrabana Chatterjee and Shiv Sahay Singh report on the lapses that led to the tragedy and the questions it has raised about accountability in West Bengal, where the new government’s first Durga Puja celebrations have been marred by controversy
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