Kolkata stampede LIVE: At least 18 people died and several others were injured in a stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata. The incident took place Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samity puja pandal in the city. West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari and Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal visited those injured at Calcutta Medical College and Hospital....

Several leaders, including former Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, expressed condolences over the stampede deaths. “Deeply shocked and saddened to learn about the stampede at the Chore Bagan Puja Pandal. I pray to Maa Durga for the speedy recovery of all those injured and for strength and courage for their families during this difficult time,” she said in a tweet.

Bengal governor RN Ravi, union home minister Amit Shah, the Aam Aadmi Party and TMC leader Kunal Ghosh also expressed grief.

What we know so far

The stampede occured at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samity puja pandal in Kolkata. The pandal was subsequently closed, and so were other such pandals that were seeing a heavy footfall on Durga Puja.

The state government launched a helpline 18003455678. The Kolkata Police launched another helpline 03322141310.

“The incident took place around 7:30 pm. The crowd at the pandal was already swelling. As it started to rain more people entered the pandal. This resulted in a stampede. Several people were injured,” Dipali Das, a pandal hopper, told the media.

Kolkata stampede LIVE: Some pandals with heavy footfall closed

Kolkata stampede LIVE: The Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samity puja pandal, where the stampede occurred, was closed. Soon after, a few other puja pandals such as Chetla Agrani and Tala Prottay, which were registering heavy footfall, were also closed down, police said.

Inputs from Joydeep Thakur.

Kolkata stampede LIVE: Bengal governor mourns ‘loss of precious lives’

Kolkata stampede LIVE: West Bengal Governor RN Ravi reacted to the stampede news and said he “many precious lives” were lost. However, there is no official confirmation on the number of deaths yet.

“I am deeply heartbroken by the tragic stampede incident at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata, resulting in the loss of many precious lives. In this hour of grief, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the swift recovery of the injured,” a statement by Lok Bhavan said.

Kolkata stampede LIVE: Suvendu Adhikari reaches hospital to meet the injured

Kolkata stampede LIVE: West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari and Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal visited those injured in the stampede, at Calcutta Medical College and Hospital.