19 killed in stampede in eastern India

NEW DELHI -- At least 19 people were killed and 35 others injured in a stampede during celebrations for the Hindu festival of Durga Puja in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata on Saturday evening, local media reported.

The stampede occurred at around 7:40 pm local time (1410 GMT) at a temporary pavilion set up for the annual festival in the city's Chorbagan Sarbojanin neighborhood.

Thousands of people had gathered at the venue when a sudden downpour prompted those outside to rush into the pavilion for shelter, triggering a stampede, according to the reports.

An eyewitness said several people lost consciousness in the crush, while some of the injured were rushed to hospital on motorcycles.

Organizers subsequently closed the pavilion to visitors.

Bikash Das, one of the organizers, said the exact cause of the tragedy remained unclear and rescue operations were the immediate priority.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as "extremely distressing."

"My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest. The West Bengal government is providing all possible help to the affected families," Modi said in a post on X.