At least 17 people died in a mass panic during a religious festival in the Indian city of Kolkata on Saturday evening, according to media reports and officials.
The incident occurred at an exit of a pavilion constructed for the festival, where a large crowd had gathered seeking shelter from heavy rain. According to reports, a misleading announcement triggered panic among the assembled attendees.
Suvendu Adhikari, chief minister of the state of West Bengal, confirmed the death toll, as reported by The Hindu newspaper. Multiple Indian media outlets, including the broadcaster NDTV and India Today, reported on the incident.
Numerous people were injured and transported to hospitals following the stampede. According to eyewitness accounts cited by India Today, several visitors lost consciousness in the crush of the crowd.
The incident occurred during the Durga Puja, a major Hindu festival celebrated in West Bengal. The festival draws large crowds to temporary structures and public spaces throughout the region.
Further details about the circumstances surrounding the misleading announcement and the exact sequence of events remained unclear as of Saturday evening.