India
Kolkata Durga Puja stampede kills 19, injures 25
Hindustan Times·
A stampede at Kolkata's Chorebagan Durga Puja pandal on Saturday killed 19 people, including four children, and injured 25. Families said visitors from West Bengal and Bihar were trapped near narrow exits. Police are examining a reported mic warning that the pandal could collapse. The state announced Rs 25 lakh and a Group D job for each bereaved family.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Bereaved families were told of Rs 25 lakh and a Group D government job per death.
- Central payments of Rs 2 lakh for each death and Rs 50,000 for each injured person were reported.
- Injured visitors remain under medical support announced by the state.
What's Happening
- Hindustan Times said 13 of the dead were female and six male, with four children among them.
- Livemint said police are studying a video of a collapse warning over the mic.
- Eyewitnesses described rain driving crowds into the cramped Chorbagan pandal around 7.30pm.
Relief After The Stampede
- The pandal sits in north Kolkata less than 2km from Howrah Bridge.
- Seven people have been arrested so far, Hindustan Times reported.
- A sitting Calcutta High Court judge was named to head a Special Investigation Team.
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