At least 19 people died on Saturday evening, 17 October, in a crush during celebrations of the Hindu festival Durga Puja in Kolkata, according to West Bengal state premier Suvendu Adhikari. Earlier, including according to the BBC, the toll had been reported as 17.
According to the AP agency, the tragedy happened on Saturday evening when a crowd gathered at one of the marquees began seeking shelter from the rain. Some worshippers reportedly fell onto the road, which caused a wave of panic and trampling. Local television, cited by an Australian outlet based on wire reports, pointed to an exit from the venue in the Girish Park area, where after a downpour a crowd tried to leave the site at the same time.
Toll: 19 dead, 25 injured
Adhikari visited the Kolkata Medical College and Hospital, where the victims were taken. As AP reports, he said there there were 19 dead and 25 people receiving medical treatment. According to a account repeated from the BBC, among the dead is a seven-year-old girl, and the state chief minister has so far managed to identify six of the victims. The death toll rose overnight, so the figure may still change.
Accounts of the immediate cause differ in details. A senior police officer quoted by AFP said that after the rain began, an announcement caused “confusion” and the crowd started pushing and falling. The newspaper “The Hindu”, citing Adhikari, wrote of panic following a misleading message.
Investigation and detentions
Adhikari announced an investigation by a special team headed by a judge of the state High Court. As AP reports, police detained some organisers of the marquees, private security guards and on-duty staff, and opened proceedings over failures in crowd management and safety. Those detained are for now suspects; no findings of guilt have been presented to them.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident “tragic” and assured that the state government is helping the families of the victims, the BBC reports.
Festival continues, some sites closed
Durga Puja in West Bengal runs this year from 16 to 21 October. According to AP, around 3,500 pandals, temporary marquees featuring images of the goddess Durga, have been set up in Kolkata. After the tragedy, authorities recommended temporarily closing several of the most visited sites to visitors.
Context
Tragedies involving crowds are not rare in India, especially during religious festivals; the BBC links them to poor management and a lack of adequate safeguards. Two years ago, in Uttar Pradesh state, 121 people died during a Hindu religious gathering.
What it means
As of publication, no information has been given about Polish citizens among the injured. People planning to travel to Kolkata during the festival, until Tuesday 21 October, should expect restrictions on entry to the largest pandals and follow announcements from local authorities and the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MSZ).
Komentarze