NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed grief over the deaths of 17 people and injuries to 15 others in the Kolkata pandal incident, calling it “extremely distressing”.PM Modi also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased person and Rs 50,000 for each injured person."The stampede in Kolkata is extremely distressing. My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest. The local administration is providing all possible assistance to those affected," PM Modi was quoted by PMO on X."The Prime Minister has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each of those who lost their lives. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000," the PMO wrote.

The incident occurred around 7.40 pm in the Girish Park police station area amid heavy crowds of pandal visitors and rainfall.As rain began, people waiting outside the pandal rushed forward, causing some to fall on the road and triggering a stampede, a senior police officer told PTI.

All the injured were rescued and taken to Calcutta Medical College for treatment.An eyewitness told 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 other senior officials reached the hospital to meet the injured.Police, fire brigade personnel, disaster management teams and medical teams were deployed at the site, along with ambulances. The pandal has since been closed to visitors.Police have also set up helplines at the Lalbazar Control Room to assist people seeking information about the incident. The numbers are 18003455678 and 03322141310.West Bengal Governor RN Ravi's office expressed condolences in a post on X, saying, "Saddened by the loss of precious lives in the stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families in this hour of grief. Praying for the swift recovery of the injured."