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Festival crush in Indian city of Kolkata kills at least 17, local media say

  • The incident occurred at the exit gate ​in Kolkata's Girish Park area ​after heavy rain led to overcrowding as large ‌numbers ⁠of devotees attempted to leave the venu
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A crush at a religious festival in the ​eastern Indian city of Kolkata ‌killed at least 17 people and injured dozens, local media reported on Saturday.

​Durga Puja, a multi-day annual ​Hindu festival in the state of ⁠West Bengal, draws huge crowds ​to temporary structures known as pandals ​that house idols of the goddess Durga.

India stampede: Six dead as thousands gather for free pass to visit Hindu temple

The incident occurred at the exit gate ​in Kolkata’s Girish Park area ​after heavy rain led to overcrowding as large ‌numbers ⁠of devotees attempted to leave the venue, local TV said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office, in a ​post on ​social ⁠media platform X, announced a compensation payment of 200,000 ​rupees ($2,106.15) for the next of ​kin ⁠of those who died and 50,000 rupees each for the injured.