Kolkata Durga Puja stampede sparks criticism of police presence and hospital readiness

On a rainy evening in Kolkata, a stampede erupted near the exit of a Durga Puja pandal, leaving many unconscious, injured, or gasping for breath. Local bystanders, including Sonu Ojha and Vivek Sonkar, helped transport victims to nearby cabs and escorted them to Calcutta Medical College and Hospital. A junior doctor reported that the state-run hospital could not provide adequate trauma treatment, resulting in several critical cases being sent to private hospitals on EM Bypass.

Witnesses said police presence was minimal and organizers were absent, leaving residents to coordinate rescue efforts. The incident has sparked accusations that both law-enforcement deployment and hospital preparedness were insufficient for such emergencies. State health minister Sharadwat Mukhopadhyay dismissed the claims, urging critics to present concrete demands.