Team Herald
PANJIM: The Mahajans of Shree Lairai Temple in Shirgao, in a special meeting held on Sunday, denied any responsibility for the recent stampede that claimed six lives and left many injured. Instead, they shifted the blame to the administration, rejecting the findings of the government-appointed fact-finding committee.
The meeting was convened specifically to discuss the committee’s report, which had held the temple committee accountable for serious lapses in planning and crowd control. However, the temple representatives expressed dissatisfaction with the conclusions drawn, asserting that they were being unfairly targeted.
Speaking to reporters, Devidas Gaonkar, President of the Shree Lairai Temple Committee, said, “We have not received the official report of the fact-finding committee. We have only come to know of its findings through media reports, which we believe are baseless. As for the comments made by previous committee members—what authority do they have to speak on this matter?”
Gaonkar insisted that the committee had made every effort to ensure the zatra was conducted peacefully and without incident.
He also dismissed the administration’s claim that 250 police personnel were present at the time of the incident. “According to locals, there were barely five police officers on the ground when the stampede occurred. Additional police arrived only after the incident had already taken place,” he said.
Gaonkar added that senior police and district administration officials, including the Deputy Collector, Superintendent of Police (SP), and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP), held a meeting with the temple committee on April 30, 2025, to issue instructions for the event. “However, it must be noted that implementing all instructions in just one day is not a realistic expectation,” he said.
Despite distancing itself from responsibility, the committee announced financial assistance for the victims: ₹1 lakh to the families of the deceased, ₹25,000 to those grievously injured, and ₹10,000 to those with minor injuries. Committee members also plan to personally visit the families of the deceased and injured.