Afghanistan, Oct. 18 -- At least 19 people were killed and 25 others were receiving medical treatment after a crowd crush at a Durga Puja festival venue in Kolkata, eastern India, officials said Sunday. The incident occurred on Saturday evening in north Kolkata as heavy rain prompted crowds near a festival pavilion to move suddenly, causing people to fall and triggering a stampede.
The incident took place at the Chorebagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal, a temporary structure set up for the annual Hindu festival celebrating the goddess Durga. Police said the crowd surge occurred near the venue's exit area in the Girish Park neighbourhood. Emergency responders took the injured to Kolkata Medical College and Hospital, while authorities closed ...