SIT Focuses on Narrow Exit and Poor Lighting After Kolkata Durga Puja Stampede

Following the deadly stampede on October 17 at the Chor Bagan Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata, a six-member Special Investigation Team chaired by retired Calcutta High Court judge Anindita Roy Saraswati is investigating the incident. The team has zeroed in on a narrow, seven-foot exit and a dimly lit pathway, noting that the emergency gate for VIPs was reportedly locked and that air-conditioner units and food stalls further narrowed the route.

Police forensic experts produced a 3D map of the site and deployed drones for aerial footage. Sanjib Raha, a puja committee member, was arrested, while Kushal Majumdar was detained for questioning; both are alleged to have made announcements that sparked panic. All seven accused, including committee secretary Raj Kumar Sewda and vice-president Santanu Dubey, have been charged under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita covering culpable homicide and related crimes. The incident has sparked political controversy, with opposition leaders demanding thorough accountability.