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At least 18 people, including 13 women and a seven-year-old girl, were killed and 25 others injured in a stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata, India, on Saturday evening.
The incident occurred around 7:40pm at the Sarada Park (Chorbagan) Puja Pandal amid heavy rain and a large gathering of devotees.
Police said the crowd waiting outside the pandal rushed forward after an announcement during the rainfall, causing people to push, stumble and fall, triggering the stampede.
Witnesses also cited narrow entry and exit gates and inadequate lighting as possible contributing factors.
The injured were rescued and taken to Calcutta Medical College and Hospital for treatment.
Emergency personnel, including police, firefighters and disaster management teams, were deployed to the scene.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the bereaved families and announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh for each deceased person’s next of kin and Rs 50,000 for each injured person.
