Dim lighting, narrow lanes raised disaster risk at Chorbagan pandal, says SIT chief

SIT chief Anindita Roy Saraswati inspected the Chorbagan pandal five days after the deadly stampede. She said that the SIT would examine security lapses, permissions, CCTV footage and the alleged announcement about the pandal collapsing.

In Short

• SIT chief flags inadequate space at pandal entry and exit points
• SIT probes police deployment, closed emergency exit and permissions
• Investigators will question eyewitnesses, rescuers and examine seized CCTV footage

Dim lighting and narrow entry and exit lanes at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal made the risk of a disaster apparent if a large crowd gathered there, retired Calcutta High Court judge Anindita Roy Saraswati said on Thursday. Saraswati, who heads the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the stampede that killed 19 people and injured 25, made the remarks after inspecting the site.

“It is obvious that an incident would happen if a large crowd enters,” she told reporters while briefing the inspection.

According to a report by news agency PTI, Saraswati said the SIT would examine the roles of Kolkata Police, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and other agencies involved in granting permissions for the pandal.

The remarks came after Kolkata Police found that the number of police personnel and private security guards deployed at the venue was insufficient. Several eyewitnesses had also raised concerns about the security arrangements.

Saraswati said police officers had informed her that an emergency exit had been provided at the pandal but remained closed at the time of the incident.

Clarifying that the stampede occurred in front of the pandal's exit gate and not inside it, she said the space available at the entry and exit points appeared inadequate for the large crowd.

The SIT will speak to those connected with the incident, including eyewitnesses and rescuers, and examine CCTV footage seized during the investigation. It will also check whether adequate CCTV cameras had been installed at the site.

The pandal will remain in its existing condition until further orders to facilitate the investigation, Saraswati said. The idols can be immersed without disturbing the structure, she added.

POLICE ARREST PUJA COMMITTEE TREASURER OVER ANNOUNCEMENT

Kolkata Police on Thursday arrested Sanjeev Raha, alias Sentu, the treasurer of the Chorbagan Durga Puja organising committee, from Nadia district. He is accused of making an announcement shortly before the stampede that a portion of the pandal was about to collapse.

The arrest came after police found video footage of an announcement asking visitors to leave the pandal because the structure was allegedly at risk of collapsing.

“We have video footage of an announcement asking people to leave the pandal on the grounds that the structure was about to collapse. We are trying to identify who made the announcement and what prompted it,” a senior Kolkata Police officer told PTI.

The SIT will also examine Raha's role in the incident. It will scrutinise the permissions granted by Kolkata Police and the fire brigade, Saraswati said.

The West Bengal government constituted the six-member SIT on Wednesday to investigate the stampede and recommend measures. The team has been asked to submit its report to the state government within three months.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has said the SIT's recommendations would be made public and action would be taken based on its findings. He said Kolkata Police and KMC officials had been excluded from the team to ensure an independent and impartial investigation.

- Ends