After the tragic Shirgao Temple stampede in Goa on May 3, which claimed six lives, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has transferred several senior IAS and IPS officers from the state. Among them is IAS officer Sneha Gitte, who was in the spotlight due to her role as North Goa Collector during the incident. She, along with then Superintendent of Police (North) Akshat Kaushal, was transferred following a fact-finding committee report that indicted the District Administration, Police, and the Temple Committee for lapses that led to the stampede.
In the same MHA order, IAS officer Yashaswini B, who had also served as North Goa Collector, was posted out of Goa. Meanwhile, IAS officers Sanjiv Gadkar and Yatindra Maralkar will be returning to Goa in new postings. Additionally, DIG Omair Singh Bishnoi has been transferred from Goa to Delhi, and other officers including Arun Kumar Mishram, Ramesh Verma, and Asvin Chandru have also been moved out of the state. These transfers reflect the administrative shake-up in the aftermath of the stampede and the government’s efforts to address accountability and improve public safety.
The Shirgao Temple stampede in Goa on May 3, 2025, was a tragic incident during the annual festival at Sri Lairai Devi temple, causing six deaths and about 100 injuries. Tens of thousands of devotees gathered for the traditional "dhondachi zatra," where participants walk barefoot over burning embers.