Key facts
- At least 17 people died and 25 were injured.
- The incident occurred during sudden rainfall.
- Six of the deceased have been identified.
At least 17 people were killed and 25 injured in a stampede at a Durga Puja festival event in Kolkata, India. The incident occurred during sudden rainfall, which witnesses said prompted a surge of people to try to seek shelter. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendhu Adhikari stated that a seven-year-old girl was among the dead. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the event as tragic and said the regional government was providing assistance to affected families. Six of the deceased have been identified. A senior police official told AFP that an announcement caused commotion after it started raining, leading to the crowd pushing and falling, resulting in the stampede.