The annual feast fair at Margao officially commenced on Sunday, but safety concerns loom large following a pandal collapse at the fair site on Friday evening, which has ignited public outcry over poor planning and lack of coordination among authorities.
The South Goa District Collector responded by issuing immediate directives aimed at improving crowd management and enforcing safety protocols.
However, confusion prevails, as Fatorda and Margao police reportedly state that they are unaware of these instructions.
This disconnect has alarmed residents and stall owners who rely on the feast for both spiritual and economic reasons. “It’s shocking that the police aren’t on the same page as the Collector,” said Milagres D’Souza, a Margao resident.
“We’ve been attending this fair for years, but this level of chaos is unacceptable. Someone needs to be held accountable before something worse happens," he stated.
Vendors who have set up stalls at the fair voiced similar frustration over the lack of communication from authorities with regard to safety measures.
“We rely on this event for our livelihood, but we also expect basic safety,” said Rohan Shirodkar, a food stall owner who has participated in the fair for over a decade. “No one told us about emergency exits, fire safety, or any protocol. It’s all very disorganised.”
Locals have urged the authorities to act swiftly to ensure the fair proceeds without further incident and have demanded a formal inquiry into incident.