“Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone” – KKR expresses condolences after massive Kolkata Durga Puja stampede 2026

A stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata on Saturday evening claimed several lives and left many others injured. The incident occurred around 7 pm amid heavy rain and lightning, when people waiting outside the pandal rushed inside, triggering a stampede. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

According to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, 17 people died, and 25 others were injured in the incident. An eyewitness said several people lost consciousness due to the heavy crowd, while some were taken away on motorcycles. The incident also led to political reactions, calls for accountability and concerns over crowd management.

Following the tragic incident, three-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) expressed their condolences to those affected by the stampede. The franchise shared a message of support, saying, “Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone.” 

See their posts here:

What KKR said after the Kolkata Durga Puja stampede

Kolkata-based IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has often expressed its love for the city and its culture. A few days before the tragic incident, the Shah Rukh Khan-owned franchise praised the Chor Bagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal on social media, writing, “সত্যিই মুগ্ধ করার মতো চোরবাগান সর্বজনীনের দুর্গাপুজো 💜 Truly mesmerising from Chorebagan Sarbojanin Durga Pujo 💜”.

According to Kolkata Police, the stampede occurred near the exit gate of the Sarada Park (Chor Bagan) Durga Puja pandal, which falls under the Girish Park police station area. A large number of devotees had gathered at the pandal despite the rain, leading to the incident. Police said around 35 people had been taken to MCH at the time of their statement, while further details were awaited.

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Following the tragic incident, KKR expressed its condolences to those affected and shared a helpline number for assistance. The franchise posted, “Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the tragic incident at Chorebagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja, Kolkata.” It also shared the helpline number 18003455678 for those seeking help.

What happened: Key details of the Kolkata Durga Puja stampede so far

The stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata occurred around 7:40 pm on October 17 amid heavy rain and overcrowding. Reports suggested that part of the pandal collapsed under crowd pressure. The injured were rescued and taken to Calcutta Medical College and Hospital (MCH) for treatment. Police, fire brigade personnel and disaster management teams were deployed, and the pandal was later closed to visitors.

Several West Bengal ministers confirmed that 17 people had died in the incident. Following the tragedy, Jayanta Banerjee, general secretary of the Chorbagan Durga Puja Committee, resigned from his post, and the other office-bearers also confirmed their resignations. The state government cancelled all programmes scheduled for the following day, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s planned meeting.

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Eyewitnesses raised concerns about the narrow entrance and exit gates and poor lighting at the venue. One witness told ANI that several people lost consciousness in the crowd and that some were taken away on motorcycles. Another eyewitness said their daughter and granddaughter had been hospitalised after the incident. The West Bengal government has also launched a toll-free helpline, 18003455678, to provide assistance to those affected.

Reactions and what happens next: Official response and relief measures

The Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal was celebrating its 91st year with the theme “AROB,” meaning a space away from sound and noise. Following the stampede, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal and Health Minister Sharadwat Mukherjee visited Calcutta Medical College and Hospital to meet the injured. The administration said arrangements were being made to provide medical treatment to those affected.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the next of kin of each person who died in the stampede. Those injured will receive ₹50,000 each as financial assistance.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed grief over the incident and said he had spoken to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari about the situation. “My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families in this hour of grief. I pray for the peace of the departed souls and the swift recovery of those injured,” Shah said in a post. He also postponed his scheduled programmes in West Bengal for the following day to visit the injured in hospital.