At least 19 dead in crowd crush tragedy at Hindu festival in India

Oct 19, 2026, 10:00 am

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Citizens gather outside as police set up barricades at the entrance to the Durga Puja Hindu festival venue after a crowd crush occurred in Kolkata, India, on the 17th (local time). / AP, Yonhap

A crowd crush occurred at a Hindu festival held in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal, leaving at least 19 dead and 25 injured, news agencies including AFP and the Associated Press reported on the 18th (local time).

According to Indian authorities, the incident took place the previous night during the Hindu festival "Durga Puja" held in Kolkata.

Police explained that as sudden rain began to fall during the festival, people rushed toward makeshift outdoor tents, leading to the tragedy.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who visited Kolkata Medical College Hospital where the victims were transported, stated that 19 people had died and 25 were receiving medical treatment. The state government formed a special investigation team led by a state high court judge to establish the exact cause of the accident.

Police are detaining and questioning representatives responsible for erecting the tents, private security personnel, and some on-site staff on duty at the time to determine whether there were lapses in crowd control and safety management.

In India, crowd crush accidents resulting from inadequate crowd control and safety measures have recurred at religious events where massive crowds assemble in confined spaces.

In January of last year, at least 30 people were killed during the Maha Kumbh festival, the world's largest religious gathering, when tens of thousands of worshippers rushed at once to bathe in a sacred river. In 2013, a crowd crush among pilgrims at a temple festival in the central state of Madhya Pradesh also claimed the lives of at least 115 people.

Lee Jeong-eun

#Hinduism #India