KOLKATA: The three-member Special Protection Group that visited Midnapore on Tuesday to investigate the collapse of a makeshift tent during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech on July 16 rebuked the Public Works Department (PWD) officials for not being present at the site during the construction of the makeshift tents despite being asked by the SPG to do so.
During a meeting with the PWD officials, District Magistrate and District Superintendent of Police on Tuesday evening, it came to light that the PWD executive engineers were not physically present at the site during the construction of the makeshift tents and were present only during the construction of the Prime Minister's dais, sources revealed.
The SPG officials investigated the entire route taken by the Prime Minister during his visit from Kalaikunda Air Force Base to the venue at Collegiate Ground in Midnapore and then to Midnapore Medical College and Hospital and back to Kalaikunda.
They also investigated the roles of PWD, health department, fire department during and after the incident. After visiting the site on Wednesday morning, the SPG officials told the district administration not to touch even a chair without their permission, sources revealed.
The SPG officials then held a closed-door meeting with top police officials of the state and left for New Delhi on Wednesday evening. They would soon submit a report to the Centre. Over 90 people were injured in the tent collapse during the Prime Minister's speech. However, most of them were later discharged after administering basic treatment.
The district police booked the organiser (state BJP), Kolkata-based contractor and the local decorator under non-bailable attempt to murder charges for the fiasco. Further investigation revealed that only 3-4 inch bore were dug to hold the structure at the base and heavy rains loosened the soil apart from accumulating water on the shed which increased its weight leading to collapse.