The Chorabagan pandal investigation has moved to forensic mapping, with Kolkata Police and forensic specialists examining the temporary structure, its access routes and the sequence of events before it is dismantled. A six-member special investigation team, led by an assistant commissioner from the Detective Department, is examining how the incident unfolded at the Kolkata puja venue.
The special investigation team returned to the site on Thursday after reviewing CCTV footage and questioning civic volunteers and club members who were present at the pandal on Saturday. Investigators are attempting to reconstruct the movement of visitors and establish what happened during the reported crowd surge.
Forensic department personnel subsequently inspected the pandal and its surrounding areas. They used a 3D camera to record the structure, including its layout and surrounding space. The inspection is intended to preserve a detailed digital record of the site before the pandal is removed.
Investigators are examining the design of the pandal, the way it was arranged and the width of the entry and exit routes. The structure cannot remain at the location for an extended period, according to information cited in the report, making the collection of physical samples and the recording of the site important parts of the investigation.
The police are also reviewing videos that circulated on social media, although the source report said their authenticity had not been independently verified. One video appeared to show several visitors becoming unwell on a curved walkway enclosed by a grille. Another appeared to show people falling amid heavy pushing and crowding around 8 to 10 metres inside an exit gate. The footage also showed people shouting in panic and a police personnel apparently attempting to make a phone call.
A public announcement made during the incident is another focus of the investigation. Witnesses cited in the report claimed that someone announced over a microphone that the pandal was collapsing and urged visitors to leave quickly. The announcement allegedly intensified the rush to exit. Investigators indicated that seized CCTV footage appeared to support parts of this sequence, while further information is still being examined.
The investigation is therefore focused not only on the physical design of the pandal but also on how visitors were directed through the site, how the crowd responded to the announcement and what actions were taken by organisers and personnel during the emergency. These questions are central to establishing the chain of events in a temporary public structure designed to handle large visitor volumes.
Seven people, including two office-bearers of the puja committee, have already been arrested in connection with the incident, according to the report. The police and forensic teams are continuing to analyse the site record, CCTV footage, videos and witness accounts as part of the investigation.
