Kolkata: Asphyxia caused by intense pressure on the chest is believed to be the primary cause of death for most of the 19 people killed in a stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata, according to preliminary post-mortem findings.
A senior health department official said on Sunday that the initial autopsy reports indicated severe internal injuries among some of the victims, with damage reported to vital organs, including the lungs, stomach, liver and pancreas. Head injuries were also noted.
Some victims had suffered fractures in their arms and legs, along with bleeding inside the skull, known as intracranial haemorrhage, and multiple injuries, the official said.
The findings are preliminary, and the post-mortem reports have identified chest compression and the resulting inability to breathe as the likely cause of most of the deaths.
