KOLKATA: At least 35 people were injured in a stampede-like situation at the exit gate of the Sarada Park (Chorbagan) Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata on Saturday evening, police said.The incident took place around 7.40pm in the Girish Park police station area amid heavy crowds of pandal hoppers and rain.As it started raining, people waiting outside the pandal rushed forward, and some fell on the road, leading to the stampede-like situation, a senior officer told news agency PTI.All the injured were rescued and taken to Calcutta Medical College for treatment.An eyewitness told news agency ANI, “Many people lost consciousness; some were being taken on motorcycles. I witnessed this happening all around—when people fainted, they were taken away on bikes. All of this took place, and there was a massive crowd as well…”Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari, chief secretary Manoj Agarwal, health minister Saradwat Mukherjee and senior officials reached the hospital.Police, fire brigade personnel, disaster management teams and medical teams were rushed to the spot, along with ambulances. The pandal has been closed to visitors.Police have also set up helplines at the Lalbazar Control Room for assistance in connection with the incident. The numbers are 18003455678 and 03322141310.Further details are awaited.
