‘My mother died before my eyes’: How rain-hit Kolkata puja pandal descended into chaos

 A stampede occurred in a crowded Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata, causing at least 19 fatalities and many injuries. The incident happened as rain prompted visitors to rush towards the entrance, overwhelming the space quickly. Eyewitness accounts describe the chaos and mismanagement related to crowd control and entry procedures. Families of victims and the injured shared their traumatic experiences at hospitals following the incident. A stampede occurred in a crowded Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata, causing at least 19 fatalities and many injuries. The incident happened as rain prompted visitors to rush towards the entrance, overwhelming the space quickly. Eyewitness accounts describe the chaos and mismanagement related to crowd control and entry procedures. Families of victims and the injured shared their traumatic experiences at hospitals following the incident.