Police personnel around the sealed Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal. picture by Sukhomoy Sen
Senior officers confirmed that forensic teams are cross-referencing survivor accounts with available CCTV footage and structural blueprints.
“The statement recording has two aspects,” a senior investigator said. To expedite the probe, dedicated teams have been tasked with visiting the residences of injured survivors to document their accounts. The initiative unfolded alongside the official recording of statements from two key witnesses at the police headquarters. Cops stated that the process serves a dual purpose: first, to establish a precise, minute-by-minute timeline of the tragedy, and second, to determine administrative and organisational lapses on the ground. “One is to establish the exact sequence of events, most importantly if the false announcement of the pandal collapsing was made prior to or after the stampede. The other aim is to find out if they received any immediate help from organizers or cops immediately after the incident, whether medical aid was kept ready, and whether there was an attempt by anyone to open the emergency gate that was found locked from inside the pandal. The revelation that an emergency exit gate was locked from the inside during peak footfall has emerged as a major point of scrutiny. Cops are investigating whether structural obstructions, insufficient crowd management, or delayed medical assistance compounded the casualty count. The detailed testimonies collected by the special field teams will form a core part of the police report assessing liability against the puja organisers and managing officials, including cops on duty at the spot at that time.