Dim lighting and narrow entry and exit lanes at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal made it apparent that a mishap could occur if a large crowd gathered there, retired Justice Anindita Roy Saraswati, who heads the SIT probing the stampede, said on Thursday.
After inspecting the pandal, where 19 people were killed and 25 injured in a stampede on October 17, Saraswati said the role of Kolkata Police and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) would also be examined as part of the probe.
"It is obvious that an incident would happen if a large crowd enters," she told reporters after visiting the site at the same time of day when the stampede occurred.
Saraswati, a former Calcutta High Court judge and chairperson of the six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), said police officers informed her that an emergency exit was available at the pandal but had been closed at the time of the incident.
SIT to examine CCTV footage, emergency exit
"The SIT would speak to everyone connected with the incident, including eyewitnesses and rescuers, and examine CCTV footage already seized as part of the investigation. It would also ascertain whether adequate CCTV cameras had been installed," she added.
The retired judge said the pandal would be kept in its existing condition until further orders to facilitate the investigation.
The immersion of the idols could be carried out without disturbing the structure, she added.
Clarifying that the stampede did not occur inside the pandal but in front of its exit gate, Saraswati said the space available at the entry and exit points appeared inadequate in light of the huge crowd.
She said the SIT would also examine the role of the man who allegedly made an announcement over the public address system shortly before the stampede.
The man, accused of telling visitors to leave the pandal because it was at risk of collapsing due to rain and overcrowding, was detained by police on Thursday.
Police, fire brigade permissions under scrutiny
Saraswati, accompanied by Disaster Management Department principal secretary Rajesh Kumar Sinha and STF Director General Jawed Shamim, said the permissions granted by police and the fire brigade would also be scrutinised in view of the narrow entry and exit routes.
"A site plan is being made, which will be looked into," she said.
Earlier, some SIT members visited the spot and spoke to police and forensic officials.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has said the SIT's recommendations would be made public and action taken based on them.
He said Kolkata Police and KMC officials had been excluded from the team to ensure an independent and impartial investigation.
The SIT has been asked to submit its report to the state government within three months.
MAITC seeks action against organisers
Meanwhile, MAITC MLA Kunal Ghosh demanded that members of the Chorbagan Durga Puja organising committee be taken into custody.
"Unless this is done, those responsible for the incident will remain behind the curtains," he said, urging the SIT to question all members of the organising committee to establish the reasons behind the stampede.
State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said a transparent and impartial investigation was being conducted in accordance with the chief minister's decision.
"We believe it is an accident; but even then the probe is being held to find out whether there was any negligence, be it on the part of the police, organisers or private security agencies," he said.