NEW DELHI: A fact-finding team that probed collapse of a dome hangar at Prime Minister Narendra Modi ’s public meeting in Midnapore in West Bengal on July 16, has found serious lapses on part of the state government in security arrangements as well as a violation of ‘Blue Book’ rules on many counts.

The report of a high-level fact-finding team set up by the Centre and intelligence agencies, accessed by TOI, said both the administrative and police brass of West Midnapore were missing from the venue during the PM ’s event. While the DM skipped the meeting, SP of another district was in charge of the venue in the absence of SP, West Midnapore.

A central government official said it is unprecedented and against established practice for the district magistrate not to be present during a public event attended by PM in his district.

No other senior police officer of the rank of Inspector General (IG) or Deputy Inspector General (DIG) was present at the venue. In fact, SP, West Midnapore, reached the venue only after collapse of the dome hangar. As many as 90 people were injured in the collapse.

The fact-finding team, headed by a senior official handling Prime Minister’s security, said in its report that there was no rehearsal or advance briefing of policemen deployed for the rally, nor was the mandatory coordination with organisers carried out by the district administration. Police officers at the spot did not take any action to prevent people from climbing poles of the dome hangar, resulting in its collapse.

PM Modi had halted his speech as the tent collapsed and directed his SPG personnel to rush to aid of those injured. The injured were rushed to the hospital, where Modi later paid them a visit.

The probe has found that the district administration or West Bengal's Public Works Department had not associated themselves with erection of the dome hangar, nor did they provide the required security certificate.

