The special investigation team probing the Chorebagan Durga Puja pandal stampede has recorded statements from 17 people, including senior Kolkata Police officers and top officials of the fire and emergency services department, as it examines how the incident led to 19 deaths.
The SIT, headed by retired judge Anindita Roy Saraswati, is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the stampede and seeking to fix responsibility at different levels of the administration. The inquiry is examining the roles of the officials and departments involved, as well as possible lapses in coordination and adherence to established procedures.
Several senior police officers and high-ranking officials of the fire and emergency services department have already appeared before the panel. The statement of an officer holding the rank of additional director general in the fire department was recorded on Saturday, according to sources cited in the report.
The incident occurred on October 17 after a sudden shower prompted a surge of visitors into the pandal. An announcement was subsequently made asking people to leave the venue. The movement of visitors during that period was followed by a stampede in which 19 people died.
The statements being collected are expected to help the inquiry reconstruct the sequence of events, assess the response of the agencies concerned and determine whether officials failed in the discharge of their duties. Officials associated with the panel said the focus was not limited to establishing what happened, but also included fixing specific responsibility.
The inquiry has been given a time-bound mandate of 90 days to complete its work and submit recommendations. Its examination of senior officials comes as the panel assesses how the police, fire services and other departments coordinated their response at a crowded public venue during a major festival.
The investigation is also expected to produce recommendations aimed at preventing a recurrence. The panel is examining possible administrative and operational lapses, including whether procedures were followed and whether coordination between agencies was adequate during the sudden movement of visitors.
With statements from senior officials being recorded, the SIT is continuing its assessment within the stipulated 90-day period. Its next formal milestone will be the completion of the inquiry and submission of its findings and recommendations.
