Live: PM condoles stampede deaths, announces Rs 2 lakh aid for victims' families

Kolkata Durga Puja StampedeKolkata Stampede Live Updates: At least 17 people were killed and several others injured in a stampede at the Chorebagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata on Saturday amid heavy crowds. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari reached Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, where several injured visitors were taken for treatment. Police stopped visitors from entering the pandal, while senior Kolkata Police officials rushed to the spot....Read MoreKolkata Chorbagan StampedeOct 17, 2026 23:16 ISTKolkata Durga Puja Stampede: Rahul Gandhi expresses grief over the stampede, urges aid for injuredCongress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday expressed grief over the stampede at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata, saying reports of several deaths and a large number of people being injured were deeply distressing. He extended his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wished a speedy recovery for the injured. Rahul Gandhi urged the administration to ensure that all injured people receive prompt and proper medical treatment. He also called for an impartial investigation into the incident to prevent such tragedies from recurring. The Congress leader appealed to party workers to extend all possible assistance in the relief efforts. Oct 17, 2026 23:15 ISTKolkata Durga Puja Stampede: Congress questions police response, seeks jobs for victims' kinWest Bengal Congress president Subhankar Sarkar on Saturday described the stampede at Kolkata's Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal as a deeply tragic incident and said the party had decided to extend full cooperation to the government. He said Congress volunteers were actively engaged in efforts to save lives. Questioning the police response, Sarkar asked where the police were when the incident occurred. He also claimed that there was no response even after calls were made to the control room at Lalbazar, adding that local residents raised the issue during his visit to the Chorbagan area. Sarkar urged the government to reflect on the incident, provide compensation to the affected families and offer employment to the families of those who lost their lives. #WATCH | Kolkata's Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja stampede incident: West Bengal Congress President Subhankar Sarkar says, "We, the entire Congress party, have made a decision to extend our full cooperation to the government. Our volunteers are actively engaged in efforts to save lives. Where was the police when the actual incident took place? The public is asking this question today. Furthermore, there was no response even after calls were made to the control room at Lalbazar. When I visited the Chorbagan area, local residents raised this concern...This is a deeply tragic incident. I urge the government to reflect on this, provide compensation, and offer employment to the families of those who lost their lives." — ANI (@ANI) October 17, 2026 Oct 17, 2026 23:12 ISTKolkata Stampede: Injured devotees brought to Medical College HospitalVisuals from outside Kolkata Medical College Hospital, where people injured in the stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal have been brought for treatment. #WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: Visuals from outside Kolkata Medical College, where those injured in the stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal have been brought for treatment https://t.co/znUD7xEuqF — ANI (@ANI) October 17, 2026 Oct 17, 2026 23:11 ISTKolkata Durga Puja: Chorbagan pandal depicts meditative Goddess DurgaGoddess Durga is depicted in a meditative state rather than her fierce, warrior-like form at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata this year. Celebrating its 91st year, the pandal carries the theme “AROB”, a Bengali term referring to a state away from sound and noise. The theme conveys a message of peace and tranquillity, urging people to rise above the chaos of everyday life and move away from violence, conflict and hostility. The pandal depicts Goddess Durga and her children sitting in deep meditation, with lighting and sound arrangements designed to create a calm atmosphere for visitors. In a departure from traditional depictions, Mahishasura, the demon slain by Goddess Durga, is shown surrendering his weapons before the Goddess. According to the organisers, the theme seeks to promote peace and composure at a time when violence, conflict and bloodshed continue to affect different parts of the world. Through the artistic presentation, they hope to encourage people to let go of hostility and embrace a more peaceful way of life. Chorbagan Sarbojanin has been drawing large crowds since the morning of Panchami, with visitors arriving to experience its distinctive interpretation of Goddess Durga and its message of harmony. Oct 17, 2026 23:09 ISTChorbagan Pandal Stampede: General secretary, office-bearers resignThe general secretary and office-bearers of the Chorbagan Durga Puja committee have resigned following the stampede at the pandal in Kolkata. Oct 17, 2026 23:06 ISTKolkata Stampede: PM Modi expresses grief, says Bengal government providing helpPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed grief over the stampede in Kolkata and offered condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. He also wished a speedy recovery for those injured in the incident. PM Modi said the West Bengal government was providing all possible assistance to the affected families.Oct 17, 2026 23:06 ISTKolkata Stampede: Heavy rain triggered rush into crowded pandal, says eyewitnessAn eyewitness to the stampede at the Chor Bagan Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata said heavy rainfall triggered a rush of devotees into the already crowded pandal, leading to the incident. The eyewitness said a large number of people had gathered to offer prayers when it suddenly began raining heavily. As people rushed inside to escape the rain, the crowd inside the pandal swelled, resulting in the stampede.Oct 17, 2026 23:05 ISTKolkata Stampede: Around 35 injured shifted to Medical College HospitalKolkata Police said a stampede occurred at around 7:40 pm on Saturday at the exit gate of the Sarada Park (Chor Bagan) Durga Puja pandal under Girish Park Police Station. The incident took place amid heavy crowds of pandal visitors and rainfall. Police said the pandal has been closed to visitors and all injured people were rescued and shifted to Medical College Hospital (MCH) for treatment. According to the information received so far, approximately 35 people have been taken to the hospital.Oct 17, 2026 23:04 ISTKolkata Durga Puja Stampede: President expresses grief over loss of livesPresident Droupadi Murmu on Saturday expressed grief over the deaths in the stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata. In a post on X, she extended her heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery for those injured in the incident.Oct 17, 2026 23:04 ISTKolkata Durga Puja Stampede: Governor R N Ravi expresses grief over deathsWest Bengal Governor R N Ravi on Saturday expressed deep sadness over the loss of lives in the stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata. He offered condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the incident.Oct 17, 2026 23:03 ISTChorbagan Pandal Stampede: Pandal closed, police seal entranceThe Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata has been closed to the public following the stampede. Police have sealed the entrance leading to the pandal as authorities respond to the incident. Oct 17, 2026 23:01 ISTKunal Ghosh calls Kolkata Durga Puja stampede unfortunate, urges focus on rescueTMC leader Kunal Ghosh on Saturday described the stampede at the Chor Bagan Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata as an “unfortunate incident” and said rescue and relief operations were underway. Ghosh said devotees injured in the incident were being taken to Medical College for treatment. He urged the police and administration to prioritise saving lives and asked hospitals to increase the number of medical staff. “Our priority is to save people,” Ghosh said, adding that TMC workers were cooperating with the police and administration. He said rescue operations inside the pandal were still required and that the situation was being closely monitored. Ghosh added that the circumstances behind the incident could be examined later, stressing that the immediate focus should remain on rescuing people and ensuring medical care for the injured. Oct 17, 2026 22:54 ISTPM Modi announces Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for Kolkata stampede victims' familiesPrime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each person who lost their life in the Kolkata Durga Puja pandal stampede. The injured will be given Rs 50,000, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a post on X.Oct 17, 2026 22:52 ISTAmit Shah postpones Bengal events, to meet injured after Kolkata Durga Puja stampedeUnion Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday expressed grief over the stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata and said he had spoken to West Bengal Chief Minister Shubhendu Adhikari about the incident. Shah offered condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. He said the administration was providing all possible medical assistance to the injured. Shah also announced that he had postponed all his scheduled programmes in West Bengal on Sunday and would visit hospitals to meet those injured in the stampede.