Forensic Team Conducts 3D Scanning at Kolkata Durga Puja Pandal After Tragic Stampede
A forensic team has scanned the site of a deadly stampede at a Kolkata Durga Puja pandal, where 19 people lost their lives on October 17.
Kolkata, October 22 (Daily Kiran) : A forensic team from the Kolkata Police conducted a 3D scanning of the Chorabagan Sarbajanin Durga Puja pandal on Thursday. This tragic site was the scene of a stampede on the night of October 17, which claimed the lives of 19 individuals.
The 3D scanning aimed to provide a clearer understanding of the pandal’s design and layout, including the width of entrances and gates. This information is crucial for the ongoing investigation.
Members of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) were present alongside forensic experts. The SIT is led by an officer of the rank of assistant commissioner from the city’s Detective Department. Previously, the SIT had visited the Chorabagan pandal. On Thursday, they reviewed CCTV footage and interviewed civic volunteers and club members who were present during the incident to reconstruct the sequence of events.
A police source indicated that the pandal cannot remain in place for long. Essential samples must be collected before its removal for further investigation. The 3D scanning will assist in understanding the scene of the incident in the future.
Meanwhile, authorities have detained a man from Nadia district, suspected of making a misleading announcement over a microphone just before the stampede. This announcement incited panic among the attendees, prompting them to rush towards the exit.
The misleading announcement came amid chaos caused by rain, as people inside the pandal were trying to stay dry while those outside sought shelter inside. The situation escalated when attendees were warned that the pandal structure might collapse, leading to widespread panic and ultimately the stampede.
Currently, the detained individual is being interrogated at the city police headquarters in Lalbazar, with no further details released by the administration, including the suspect’s name.
On Thursday, members of a six-member judicial inquiry panel, chaired by retired Justice Anindita Roy Saraswati, visited the Chorabagan pandal to begin their preliminary investigation. This panel is tasked with completing its inquiry and submitting a report to the state government within three months, a challenging endeavor according to its chair.
