A tragic stampede occurred at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata, resulting in the deaths of 18 people. The incident took place during the height of the festival, a time when large crowds typically gather to visit elaborate temporary structures known as pandals.

According to reports, the disaster was precipitated by a combination of adverse weather conditions and the spread of rumors among the crowd. Heavy rain reportedly forced attendees to seek shelter or move quickly, creating a chaotic environment. In the resulting confusion, rumors—the specific nature of which remains under investigation—circulated through the crowd, leading to a surge of people that overwhelmed the pandal's capacity and safety measures.

While the immediate cause of death has been identified as a stampede, authorities are currently reviewing crowd management protocols at the site to determine if safety regulations were adequately followed. The incident has raised concerns regarding the management of large-scale public gatherings during the monsoon season in West Bengal. Local officials have initiated an inquiry to establish the sequence of events and identify any lapses in security or crowd control that may have contributed to the high casualty count.