Ahead of the upcoming Dhond Fair of Shri Lairai Devi Temple, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant inspected the ongoing road widening works at Shirgaon to ensure better crowd management and safety during the annual event scheduled in April.
The inspection comes in the wake of last year’s tragic stampede during the fair, in which several Dhonds lost their lives. It was widely believed that the incident occurred due to the narrow road along the route used by devotees after the Dhonds were thrown and while returning to the fair premises.
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To prevent a recurrence of such incidents, authorities have undertaken road widening works along the stretch leading to the temple area. The move is aimed at easing the movement of devotees and improving overall safety during the large gathering that attends the festival each year.
Officials stated that the infrastructure improvements are being carried out ahead of the fair to ensure smoother access and better crowd control during the Dhond Fair, which attracts thousands of devotees annually.
