Husband describes wife's death after chaotic Kolkata pandal stampede amid rain

The pair arrived in Kolkata from Chakdah and, ignoring a suggestion to skip the packed Chorbagan pandal, proceeded there as rain began. Crowd control was inadequate; volunteers took down barricades, letting the mass of people pour in and creating a dark, suffocating environment. A sudden surge caused a stampede, separating the husband from his wife, Arati Sarkar.

He later discovered her lying motionless and, with no immediate medical help, waited over an hour for an ambulance. Upon reaching the hospital, doctors declared her dead and barred him from viewing the body. Authorities told him to file a police report the following morning.