Kolkata: The head of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the deadly stampede at a north Kolkata Durga Puja pandal said on Thursday that the three‑month timeframe set by the State government to submit a report was short, but the committee would strive to meet the deadline.
Inquiry to examine sequence of events and response
Justice Anindita Roy Saraswati (retired), who will lead the six‑member SIT constituted in consultation with the Calcutta High Court, said members would meet shortly to chalk out an investigation roadmap and visit the Chorbagan pandal to ascertain the cause of the incident. The October 17 incident at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal resulted in 19 deaths and left 25 people injured, according to government figures.
"It is a short duration, but we will try our best to meet the deadline," Justice Saraswati said, referring to the three‑month timeline set by the State government.
The SIT's scope of work, as outlined by the government, covers a wide range of material and agencies. The team will examine the chronology leading up to the crowd surge, ascertain whether the number of people present exceeded assessed safe capacity, and identify the immediate triggers of the stampede. Investigation will include electronic and documentary evidence as well as an assessment of preparedness and response by multiple stakeholders.
- Evidence to be scrutinised: CCTV footage, mobile phone clips, forensic findings, call records, police station and control room logs, medical records.
- Response agencies to be evaluated: event organisers, police, private security, volunteers, ambulance services, hospitals, fire services and civic authorities.
- On‑site work: SIT will visit the Chorbagan pandal to study the layout and crowd movement patterns.
The SIT comprises officials from several departments alongside the retired judge. The government said the panel was formed in consultation with the Calcutta High Court to ensure a comprehensive probe into the causes and lapses, and to recommend measures to prevent such tragedies during public festivals in future.
| Post | Representation on SIT |
|---|---|
| Chair | Justice Anindita Roy Saraswati (retired) |
| Disaster Management | Principal Secretary, Disaster Management and Civil Defence Department |
| Police | DG & IG of Special Task Force; representative of West Bengal Police chief (not below ADG) |
| Administration | Representative of Home and Hill Affairs Department (not below Joint Secretary) |
| National Agency | Representative of National Disaster Response Force |
Implications for Durga Puja management across the city
Chorbagan, like many pandals across Kolkata, draws large crowds during the festival season — a fact that places renewed focus on crowd assessment, entry‑exit planning and coordination among civil agencies. The SIT's probe into the sequence of events and the preparedness of emergency services is likely to influence guidelines for future celebrations in the city, where elaborate pandals are a central cultural fixture.
Investigators will also review the role of private security and volunteers deployed at the venue as well as the adequacy of ambulance and hospital response in the aftermath. The forensic, electronic and medical records that the SIT intends to examine are expected to provide a clearer picture of how the crowd surge began and why it escalated into a fatal stampede.
The decision to involve a retired High Court judge as chair reflects the gravity of the incident and the demand for an impartial, structured inquiry. The SIT's recommendations could lead to revised norms on assessed safe capacity, mandatory crowd‑management plans for large pandals, and clearer protocols for inter‑agency coordination during festivals.
The investigation is under close public scrutiny in Kolkata, where Durga Puja is not only a major religious observance but also an occasion of mass participation, civic pride and cultural display. The findings — whether they point to lapse, unforeseeable circumstance, or systemic shortcoming — will shape how the city balances celebration with safety in seasons to come.
