Kolkata Durga Puja stampede: Post-mortem reports point to asphyxiation, internal injuries

Kolkata: Preliminary post-mortem findings have indicated that chest compression, suffocation and severe internal injuries contributed to the deaths of 19 people in the stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata’s Chorbagan area.

The initial reports suggest that many victims suffered traumatic asphyxia, a condition in which pressure on the chest prevents normal breathing. The findings indicate that people who fell during the rush may have been trapped beneath others, leaving them unable to breathe as the crowd pressed down on them.

Kolkata Durga Puja stampede

Medical examiners identified traumatic asphyxia caused by chest compression as a key factor in the deaths. Sustained pressure on the chest can prevent the lungs from expanding properly, restricting the intake of oxygen and leading to suffocation.

The preliminary findings suggest that this pressure played a major role in the deaths of several victims. People caught in a tightly packed crowd may also struggle to move or escape, increasing the risk of serious injury.

The reports also recorded signs of extensive physical trauma in several bodies. Some victims reportedly suffered internal bleeding and damage to vital organs, pointing to the force exerted during the stampede.

The injuries included damage to the lungs, stomach, liver and pancreas, while trauma to the head was also documented in some cases. Certain victims reportedly had ruptured internal organs, indicating the severity of the pressure sustained during the incident.

Such injuries can occur when people are crushed against one another or trapped beneath the weight of a crowd. The combination of restricted breathing and severe internal trauma appears to have contributed to the fatal outcome.

Authorities have stressed that the findings are preliminary and should not be treated as the final determination of the causes of death. A more complete assessment will be possible once the final post-mortem reports are officially released.