Kolkata’s festive spirit turned to grief on Saturday evening, when a crowd surge amid rain caused a stampede at the Chorbagan Puja pandal in north Kolkata. Nineteen people died and 25 were injured. Here is where things stand as of Sunday, October 18, 2026.
Latest Update on the Injured
Fourteen of the 25 injured are being treated at a private hospital in the city. Three are in the ICU, and one of them is in critical condition. West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission chairman Biswajit Basu, a retired judge, visited the hospital with doctors and commission members to review the treatment.
His assessment: “Roughly, everyone is stable, except one person,” and the medical team is satisfied the treatment is proceeding properly.
Chorbagan Condition : Overview
| Group | Number | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths | 19 | Confirmed |
| Total injured | 25 | Under treatment |
| At the private hospital | 14 | Being treated |
| In ICU | 3 | One critical, two showing improvement |
| General ward | 11 | More or less stable |
What Doctors Are Saying?
The most serious ICU patient is in a relatively serious condition due to acidosis, an excess of acid in the body. Doctors said this can be associated with prolonged muscle injury caused by being crushed in a crowd. The other two ICU patients are improving, and doctors hope to shift them to the general ward.
One patient has suffered pelvic trauma, while the others are still being assessed. Orthopaedic specialists will decide the next course of treatment. There is some encouraging news too: the injured are relatively young with few underlying medical problems, which could help recovery.
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What Happens Next: A Safety Review?
The state government has formed a panel to review safety protocols at all major puja pandals. If shortcomings are found, it will recommend measures for immediate implementation. Understanding how such incidents happen is part of preventing them, and crowd crush is a well-documented danger in dense gatherings.
Staying Safe in Festival Crowds
Whenever you visit a packed venue, a few habits help:
- Note exits the moment you arrive.
- Avoid pushing into dense sections, especially in wet or slippery conditions.
- Keep families together and agree on a meeting point.
- Leave early if the crowd starts to surge.
Looking for more practical explainers? Read our latest stories for more.
FAQs
How many people died in the Chorbagan stampede?
Nineteen people died and 25 were injured after a crowd surge amid rain on Saturday evening.
What is the condition of the injured?
Most are stable, three are in ICU, and one is critical.
