Basuri Desai
PANJIM: A crucial meeting between the Shree Lairai Temple committee, North Goa police, and district administration was held just two days before the annual festival, leaving the temple authorities with only a day to act on several crowd management recommendations, a timeframe they claim was not feasible for implementing key safety measures like CCTV installation and barricading.
Six people died and several others were injured in a stampede at the Shree Lairai Temple in Shirgao village, North Goa, during the early hours of Saturday.
During the meeting held on April 30, authorities had instructed the temple committee to install CCTV cameras at the entrance and exit points, crowded areas near the temple, and the Homkhand. They were also asked to establish a CCTV control room with adequate police presence and arrange for proper barricading to manage the queues.
The meeting was attended by then Superintendent of Police (North) Akshat Kaushal, then Deputy Superintendent of Police (Bicholim) Jivba Dalvi, Deputy Collector (Bicholim) Bhimnath Khorjuvekar, Temple Committee President Dinanath Gaonkar, and others.
The minutes of the meeting stated, “The temple committee is asked to install CCTV at all the entry and exit points, crowded areas, near temple and Homkhand along with CCTV control room wherein adequate police staff also would be provided.”
“The temple committee is also requested to make necessary arrangements with regards to maintenance of queue with proper barricading wherever required. The committee is also required to assist police in crowd control and management during the festival,” the minutes further read.
When contacted, Temple Committee President Dinanath Gaonkar on Monday said there was not enough time to implement the recommendations. “You require at least 10-15 days to install these cameras. The meeting was only couple of days ahead of the festival,” he said.
Gaonkar also noted that barricading was avoided based on previous instances where devotees had suffered injuries. The temple committee has already deposed before the fact-finding inquiry committee constituted by the state government, providing all relevant details, Gaonkar added.
19 still at GMC, one stays
critical
BAMBOLIM: Nineteen victims injured in the recent stampede at Shirgao are currently undergoing treatment at Goa Medical College (GMC), Medical Superintendent Dr Rajesh Patil said on Monday.
Speaking to the press, Dr Patil said, “The total number of patients who reported to Goa Medical College is 21 while two have been discharged. Today we had 3 new admissions; some of them have reported one or two days after the event. The three patients who were admitted today had earlier gone to the District Hospital at Mapusa. One patient is being treated for brachial plexus injury, while two have rib fractures.”
Among the five patients initially reported to be in a serious condition, he said four were now stable, while was in a slightly critical state.