Kolkata pandal stampede: President Murmu, VP Radhakrishnan and other top leaders express condolences
New Delhi [India], October 18 (ANI): President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President CP Radhakrishnan and other prominent leaders on Saturday expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of lives in the stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata, extending condolences to the bereaved families and praying for the speedy recovery of those injured.
A stampede occurred at the crowded Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata, leaving several people dead and others injured. The injured were shifted to hospitals for treatment.
President Droupadi Murmu expressed her condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the swift recovery of those injured in the incident.
"The news of the deaths of people in a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata is extremely heartbreaking. I express my deepest condolences to all the bereaved families. I pray for the swift recovery of those who have been injured," the President of India stated.
कोलकाता में दुर्गा पूजा पंडाल में हुई लोगों की मृत्यु का समाचार बहुत ही दुखद है। सभी शोक संतप्त परिवारजनों के प्रति मैं गहन संवेदना व्यक्त करती हूं। मैं घायल हुए लोगों के शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की कामना करती हूं।
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) October 17, 2026
Vice President CP Radhakrishnan also expressed anguish over the tragedy, conveying his condolences to the families who lost their loved ones and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.
"Deeply anguished by the tragic stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata. My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured," he said in a post on X.
Deeply anguished by the tragic stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata. My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured.
— Vice-President of India (@VPIndia) October 17, 2026
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also expressed deep sorrow over the incident, describing the loss of lives and injuries among devotees at the Durga Puja pandal as "extremely heartbreaking".
"It is extremely heartbreaking that several devotees lost their lives and were injured in the stampede at the Durga pandal in Chor Bagan, Kolkata. I express my deepest condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in this painful accident. I pray to God that the departed souls find a place at His feet and that the injured recover swiftly," he said in a post on X.
कोलकाता में चोरबागान के दुर्गा पंडाल में भगदड़ के चलते कई श्रद्धालुओं की मृत्यु एवं घायल होना अत्यंत दुःखद है। इस पीड़ादायी दुर्घटना में अपनों को खोने वाले परिवारों के प्रति गहरी संवेदना व्यक्त करता हूँ। ईश्वर से प्रार्थना है कि दिवंगत आत्माओं को अपने चरणों में स्थान दें तथा घायलों को शीघ्र स्वस्थ करें।
— Lok Sabha Speaker (@loksabhaspeaker) October 17, 2026
BJP leader Smriti Irani also extended her heartfelt condolences to the families affected by the tragedy, expressing solidarity with those grieving the loss of their loved ones and praying for the recovery of the injured.
"Deeply saddened by the tragic stampede in Kolkata. My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. Prayers for strength for the bereaved families and a speedy recovery for all those injured," she said on X.
Deeply saddened by the tragic stampede in Kolkata. My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. Prayers for strength for the bereaved families and a speedy recovery for all those injured. কলকাতায় ঘটে যাওয়া মর্মান্তিক পদদলনের ঘটনায় আমি গভীরভাবে শোকাহত। যাঁরা তাঁদের প্রিয়জনদের হারিয়েছেন, সেই পরিবারগুলোর প্রতি আমার আন্তরিক সমবেদনা জানাই। শোকসন্তপ্ত পরিবারগুলো যেন এই কঠিন সময়ে শক্তি পায়, সেই প্রার্থনা করি; পাশাপাশি যারা আহত হয়েছেন, তাঁদের দ্রুত আরোগ্য কামনা করি।
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) October 17, 2026
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the loss of lives and prayed to Lord Shri Ram to grant peace to the departed souls, strength to the bereaved families and a speedy recovery to those injured.
"The loss of lives in the tragic incident at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata is extremely heartbreaking and soul-wrenching. My condolences are with the bereaved families. I pray to Lord Shri Ram that He grant eternal peace to the departed souls, strength to the grief-stricken families to bear this immense sorrow, and swift recovery to the injured," he said.
कोलकाता के दुर्गा पूजा पंडाल में हुए हादसे से हुई जनहानि अत्यंत दुःखद एवं हृदयविदारक है। मेरी संवेदनाएं शोक संतप्त परिजनों के साथ हैं। प्रभु श्री राम से प्रार्थना है कि दिवंगत आत्माओं को सद्गति, शोकाकुल परिवारों को यह अथाह दुःख सहन करने की शक्ति तथा घायलों को शीघ्र स्वास्थ्य लाभ प्रदान करें।
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) October 17, 2026
Meanwhile, Kolkata Police, in a statement, said the stampede occurred at the exit gate of the Sarada Park (Chor Bagan) Puja Pandal, under the Girish Park Police Station area, due to a "heavy rush" of pandal visitors amid rain on Saturday at around 19:40 hours. (ANI)
