19 killed in crush during Durga Puja celebration in Kolkata
25 people were treated, after rain and an announcement sparked panic in a narrow lane leading to the festival pavilion.
At least 19 people were killed and 25 others were injured in a crush during Durga Puja celebrations in Kolkata, India, on Saturday night. Sudden rain triggered panic around the pandal, a temporary structure housing an idol of Goddess Durga, as crowds rushed for shelter. A senior police official said an announcement heard as the rain began also helped set off the disturbance, after which the crowd shoved and fell in a narrow lane. West Bengal official Suvendhu Adhikari said a seven-year-old girl was among the dead and only six bodies had been identified. Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences, while police secured CCTV footage to investigate possible crowd-management lapses.