‘Deeply saddened by the loss’: Shikhar Dhawan mourns victims of Kolkata Durga Puja stampede at Chorebagan Pandal

Former India cricketer Shikhar Dhawan expressed his sadness over the tragic stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata. The incident claimed 19 lives and left 25 people injured. Taking to X, Dhawan offered condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of those hurt.

Dhawan shared a heartfelt message following the tragedy. He wrote, “Deeply saddened by the loss of lives in the Kolkata stampede.” The incident took place on Saturday evening in north Kolkata, where a sudden rush of people led to chaos amid heavy rain and lightning.

The tragedy occurred around 7 pm when people waiting outside the pandal rushed inside, triggering a stampede. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals for medical care. West Bengal Health Minister Saradwat Mukherjee said on Sunday that post-mortem examinations had been completed for more than half of the 19 deceased. He added that all 25 injured people were in stable condition and receiving treatment at Kolkata Medical College and Hospital and Apollo Hospital.

Shikhar Dhawan expresses grief after stampede at Chorebagan Durga Puja Pandal in Kolkata

Former India cricketer Shikhar Dhawan expressed grief over the stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata on Saturday, October 17. The incident occurred around 7 pm amid heavy rain and lightning, when people waiting outside rushed inside, triggering a stampede. Several people lost their lives, while others were injured and taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

According to the reports, the stampede claimed 19 lives and left 25 people injured. An eyewitness said several people lost consciousness due to the large crowd, while some were taken away on motorcycles. The incident also raised concerns about crowd management and led to calls for accountability.

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Taking to X, Dhawan offered condolences to the families who lost their loved ones and prayed for the recovery of those injured. He wrote, “Deeply saddened by the loss of lives in the Kolkata stampede. My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. Praying for the recovery of everyone injured.”

What we know: Heavy rain, crowd surge and a narrow exit at the Chorebagan Pandal

The stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in north 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, triggering panic among devotees. The injured were rescued and taken to Calcutta Medical College and Hospital for treatment. Police, fire brigade personnel and disaster management teams were deployed, and the pandal was later closed to visitors.

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, along with other office-bearers. The state government also cancelled 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, while some were taken away on motorcycles. Another eyewitness said their daughter and granddaughter had been hospitalised. The West Bengal government also launched a toll-free helpline, 18003455678, to assist those affected. Dhawan’s message added to the condolences shared by public figures as families mourned their loved ones and the injured continued to receive treatment.

Reactions and support: PM Modi’s ex-gratia, KKR’s helpline and what happens next

Following the stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) expressed 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 people seeking help.

The pandal was celebrating its 91st year with the theme “AROB,” which represents a space away from sound and noise. Following the incident, 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 ensure proper medical treatment for those affected by the tragedy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced financial assistance of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each person who died in the stampede. Those injured will receive ₹50,000 each. The state government also announced compensation of ₹25 lakh for each bereaved family and a government job for one member of each family. The chief minister further stated that each injured person would receive ₹5 lakh, with all medical expenses covered by the state government.