Kolkata, October 17: At least 17 people were reportedly feared dead and 15 others injured in a stampede at a community Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata on Saturday evening.

The incident occurred at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Puja pandal in the northern part of the city around 7.40 PM amid heavy rain and lightning.

As it started raining, the crowd waiting outside the pandal rushed forward, and some of them fell on the road, leading to the stampede, a senior officer said.

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Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, Health Minister Saradwat Mukherjee, Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal and senior officials rushed to the Kolkata Medical College and Hospital.

Disaster management personnel and rescue teams rushed to the spot.

The Kolkata police in a statement said, "Today (17/10/26), at around 19:40 hrs, a stampede occurred at the exit gate of the Sarada Park (Chor Bagan) Puja Pandal in the Girish Park Police Station area due to heavy crowds of pandal visitors during rain. All injured persons were rescued and taken to MCH".

"Reinforcement from the Control Room, Fire Brigade, Kolkata Police, DMG team and ambulances with medical teams were deployed. The Puja Pandal is now closed to visitors. As per the information received so far, around 35 people have been taken to MCH," they added.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each of those who lost their lives and Rs 50,000 for the injured.