Social IssuesGS-IGS-II· 1 min read
West Bengal Government Forms SIT to Probe Durga Puja Pandal Stampede
Why in news?
Following a stampede at a Durga Puja pandal that claimed 19 lives, the West Bengal government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a comprehensive inquiry.
Key points
- The SIT will be headed by retired Justice Anindita Roy Saraswati.
- The inquiry aims to ascertain the cause of the crowd surge and stampede.
- The SIT will examine weather conditions and their impact on crowd movement.
- The committee will assess the adequacy of passages, barricades, and safety measures at the pandal.
- The SIT is expected to submit its report within three months.
Background & context
Stampedes at crowded public events are a recurring concern in India, highlighting issues of crowd management and safety regulations.
★ Prelims fact capsule
19 lives were lost in the stampede at Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja Pandal.
✎ Mains relevance
GS Paper I: Social Issues; GS Paper II: Governance, Disaster Management