The six-member SIT constituted to probe the October 17 stampede at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata has issued its first statement on Thursday.
Retired Justice Anindita Saraswati heading the SIT said they are yet to chalk out a roadmap on the way forward.
The team is given a period of three months to report, submit a report on the incident, which Justice Saraswati feels is too short and might require an extension of the deadline if needed. The team, however, aims to complete the task within the stipulated time.
In a media interaction, she said, “We have to first visit the site, look at which points to consider on why people lost their lives and then decide a plan of action.”
The team have also mentioned to have a look at the CCTV footage, where there could be a possibility that a mandatory requirement of installing cameras in the pandal could be suggested in the near future.
The development comes as Kolkata police The state details Sanjeev Raka alias Santu, the treasurer of the microphone announcements of the Jorabagan Sarvajanin Durga Puja Committee for interrogation. This information obtained from the previously made arrests.
According to the police, announcements were repeatedly made over the committee’s microphone that the pandal was collapsing, which sparked a frantic rush among visitors and led to a stampede.
Team has also decided to visit the families of those who perished in the train accident, many who are unheard from, to ascertain what took place at the spot. They can explain the situation as to what happened and why, to collate information and help us understand the sequence of events, added Justice Saraswati.
Other members of the SIT include Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Principal Secretary, Disaster Management, Civil Defence Department; Javed Shamim, the Director General of Police, Special Task Force, a representative of the Director General of Police, not below the rank of Additional Director General; a representative of the Women and Child Affairs Department, not below the rank of Joint Secretary; and a representative of the National Disaster Response Force in Kolkata.
West Bengal state government has announced an ex gratia of Rs 25 lakh to the next of deceased. Apart from taking care of the medical hospitalization, a compensation of Rs 5 Lakh was announced for those injured.