Kolkata, Oct. 20 -- Traumatic asphyxia, broken ribs that punctured the lungs, and injuries to the head and other internal organs were among the primary causes of death in the Kolkata Durga Puja stampede that killed 19 people on Saturday, according to preliminary autopsy findings. At least 25 people were injured in the stampede at the Chorebagan Sarbojanin Durgotsav Samity pandal in central Kolkata. The deceased included three men, 11 women and five children. "In at least six to seven cases, the preliminary autopsy report suggested that their rib cages had broken which punctured their lungs. Some died of traumatic asphyxia and a few had severe injuries on their head and other internal organs," said an official aware of the developments. Traumatic asphyxia occurs when intense pressure on the chest and upper abdomen causes respiratory distress and insufficient oxygen intake. It is commonly associated with crush injuries, motor vehicle accidents and other incidents involving sustained pressure on the chest. "These causes are common in stampede cases when the victims suffer intense persistent pressure," the official said. The final and detailed autopsy reports are awaited, officials said. "The bodies have been handed over to the families after autopsy. The final and detailed autopsy reports are awaited," another official said. A preliminary police investigation has found that the pandal had been witnessing heavy footfall over the past few days, with the crowd swelling on Saptami evening, one of the busiest days of Durga Puja. Rain began as the crowd gathered. "It was then that the organisers started announcing that the pandal could collapse and the people should leave. There was an announcement and the volunteers at the pandal started blowing whistles. This apparently triggered the stampede," the official told HT. West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari had earlier said that at least two of the 25 injured people were admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) with fractures....