I spent this past Shabbos in Meron. Here are my thoughts and observations
On Friday I went to the steps and said Sefer Tehilim as a zechus for the neshamos of the niftarim. It's not something I've really done before, so it took quite a while. While I was there, many, many people came to see where the tragedy happened. I heard 10-12 different versions of what happened, where exactly the people fell, where there was or wasn't a machsom...different versions even from people who claimed to be there. I was a little shocked how just one week later (still within the shiva!) it was so much a tourist attraction, and not a place of teffila. Some of the women said tehillim, but of the men...while I was there only one person said "Hey, it's still during the shiva lets do something for their zechus". Even on Shabbos, Chilonim came to view the place of the "Ason", parking outside the gates and walking up.
After I was done Tehillim, I went to examine the scene. I, and we all, have the benefit of hindsight, however at least some of what I noticed should have raised some attention ahead of time.
(Background: The path leads from the area behind the Tzion of Rashbi, from the exits, along the side to return to the entrance plaza. The back plaza was developed by the Toldos Aharon Chassidus to use for their hadlakos. As far as I could tell, TA does not have historical "Chazakos" to the area (unlike the various hekdeshim within the tzion) rather found and unused area and developed it for their own use. It seems that the path was built/planned by a TA chassid called R' Dov)
The ramp is about 10-12 feet wide. Before the events of Lag Baomer, there was a metal hand rail down the middle, to divide between those going up and those going down. Towards the bottom of the ramp, the down path narrows due to the right wall moving in to the left. Though you cant easily tell from the picture it loses a significant percentage of its width. This could lead to an additional increase in crowd pressure as it proceeds down the ramp.
Describing the metal surface of the ramp as "slippery" does not do it justice. I had no one around me, was wearing rubber soled shoes that provide good traction in other situations (Hush Puppies Rainmakers, if you must know) and I was unable to stand without slipping down the ramp. The slippiest area was in the area where the path narrows...
Immediately at the end of the ramp (and end of the wall on right) steps begin on the right side. It's immediate, the right most person will have his feet on the steps just as the pressure from the wall stops... The steps are steep, unfinished and uneven. At the bottom of the steps is a short landing, with narrow steps leading down to the right, (in the direction of the TAY hadlaka area) and the main path leading to the left and return to the entrance plaza. Just a few years ago, this was an unroofed path, with open area surrounding it. However, the Hachnasas Orchim located under the shteibelach built a platform over the path and the surrounding area, leading to the cramped tunnel look seen in the pictures of the event.
There were other dangerous places I noticed. The Shvil Hakohanim in the area of TAY, was missing sections of fencing that should be protecting a 20 or so foot drop...
(I'm havimg trouble attacing the pictures I took, It seems that my filter may be blocking it, if anyone can help me post them I'd appriciate it.)
