At least 17 people were killed in a crowd crush at a Durga Puja event in Kolkata, India, officials said, after sudden rainfall disrupted the gathering, the BBC reported on 17 October 2026.
What officials say
West Bengal’s Chief Minister Suvendhu Adhikari said a seven-year-old girl was among the dead and that 25 people were being treated for injuries, according to the BBC. Adhikari also said six of the dead had been identified.
Police and witness accounts
Witnesses cited by the BBC said the rainfall prompted people to rush for shelter. A senior police official told AFP—per the BBC report—that an announcement after it started raining caused “commotion,” and that the crowd began “pushing, pulling and rushing forward,” leading to a stampede.
Prime minister’s response
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it a “tragic” incident and said the regional government was providing help to affected families, the BBC reported.
Recent precedent
The BBC noted that deadly crowd incidents at religious events are not uncommon in India, citing poor management and inadequate safety precautions. The outlet also recalled that two years ago, 121 people were killed during a Hindu religious gathering in Uttar Pradesh.
Source: BBC News report by George Wright; AFP via the BBC for the police account.
