KOLKATA, Oct. 19 -- Traumatic asphyxia, broken ribs that punctured lungs, and severe blunt force trauma to heads and internal organs were the primary causes of death in Saturday's stampede at a central Kolkata Durga Puja pandal, according to preliminary autopsy findings.

Nineteen people including 11 women and five children lost their lives in the stampede, while 25 others were injured after a crowd surge triggered a stampede at the Chorebagan Sarbojanin Durgotsav Samity pandal on Saturda.

In at least six to seven cases, preliminary autopsy reports indicated broken rib cages that punctured the lungs. Some succumbed to traumatic asphyxia caused by extreme chest compression, while a few suffered critical head and organ injuries, an officia...