Kolkata stampede probe: SIT vows to meet tight three-month deadline

KOLKATA: A six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the deadly Chorbagan Durga Puja stampede in Kolkata has indicated that the three-month deadline to submit its report is challenging, though the panel will strive to meet it [3, 4, 5]. The October 17 tragedy at the north Kolkata pandal claimed 19 lives and left 25 people injured [3, 4, 5].

The SIT, constituted by the state government in consultation with the Calcutta High Court, is tasked with determining the exact sequence of events that led to the fatal crowd surge [4, 5]. Retired Calcutta High Court Justice Anindita Roy Saraswati is heading the probe [3, 4, 5]. The panel will scrutinise crowd dynamics, organisational preparedness, and the structural layout of the pandal, including entry and exit points, barricades, and emergency exits [4, 5].

Justice Saraswati acknowledged the tight timeframe for the inquiry. "Three months is a very short period for an investigation of this magnitude. Nevertheless, we will make every effort to submit our report within the stipulated time," she stated. The six-member team comprises the principal secretary of the Disaster Management and Civil Defence Department, the director general and inspector general of police of the Special Task Force, a West Bengal Police representative not below the rank of additional director general, a Home and Hill Affairs Department representative not below joint secretary rank, and a National Disaster Response Force representative.

Investigators will analyse CCTV footage, mobile phone videos, forensic reports, and police control room logbooks to assess compliance with National Disaster Management Authority guidelines. "We will personally visit the site to ascertain the actual cause of the incident," Justice Saraswati said, adding, "First, we must determine whose fault led to this incident. We need to uncover the reasons behind the multiple fatalities, identify those responsible, and hold them accountable".

The investigation's scope extends beyond the immediate trigger to evaluate systemic coordination failures. Evidence suggests that an announcement over the public address system claiming the pandal was collapsing triggered the panic [3, 5]. Consequently, police have arrested Sanjib Raha, the treasurer of the Chorbagan puja committee, who allegedly made the announcement and was absconding in Nadia [3, 5]. The probe will also assess the roles of various agencies, including the Kolkata Police, private security, fire services, and civic authorities, to identify administrative or operational lapses [4, 5].

Political and administrative accountability is also emerging as a focal point. According to reports, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari described the incident as a case of human error, noting that the pandal structure was still standing when he visited the site early on the day of the incident. The investigation is expected to examine the roles of local political figures and committee members, including the puja committee's leadership, to ensure comprehensive accountability.

As the SIT prepares to visit the site and chalk out a detailed roadmap, the findings are expected to shape future crowd management protocols for large religious gatherings in the state [4, 5]. The panel's recommendations will likely focus on stricter evacuation measures, better inter-agency coordination, and clear accountability frameworks to prevent a recurrence of such fatalities.