At least 17 people, including a seven-year-old girl, were killed and several others injured in a stampede at a Hindu religious festival in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata on Saturday, as heavy rain and a sudden surge in the crowd triggered panic at a crowded festival venue.

The incident occurred at the Chorebagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pavilion in north Kolkata at around 7:40 p.m. local time, according to police. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said 17 people had died and 25 others were injured.

A senior police official said people waiting outside the venue rushed forward when rainfall began, causing a crush in which several people fell to the ground. Witnesses also described confusion and panic as festivalgoers attempted to find shelter from the sudden downpour.

The injured were taken to Calcutta Medical College and Hospital for treatment. Police, firefighters, disaster management personnel and medical teams were deployed to assist victims, while authorities closed the pavilion to visitors following the incident,

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the deaths, describing the incident as tragic and extending condolences to the bereaved families.

Modi announced compensation of 200,000 rupees (approximately $2,250) for the family of each person killed and 50,000 rupees for each injured person from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.

Adhikari and other senior state officials visited the hospital to assess the situation and review arrangements for the treatment of those injured.

Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also expressed sorrow over the incident and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

The tragedy has renewed concerns over crowd management and safety arrangements at large public gatherings in India, where overcrowding and inadequate crowd-control measures have contributed to deadly incidents in the past.

In one of the country's worst recent crowd disasters, 121 people were killed during a Hindu religious gathering in Uttar Pradesh in July 2024.

Authorities are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding Saturday's incident, including crowd movement, access and exit arrangements, and the measures taken to manage the sudden influx of people during the rainfall.

The deaths have cast a shadow over Durga Puja, one of the largest Hindu festivals in West Bengal, which draws large crowds to decorated temporary pavilions to celebrate the goddess Durga. (ILKHA)