Team Herald
BICHOLIM: Six people were killed and over 70 injured in a stampede during the Shree Lairai Devi Zatra at Shirgao in the wee hours of Saturday, marring the festivities at one of Goa’s biggest festivals that draws thousands of devotees every year.
Between 50,000 and 1 lakh pilgrims had crowded the narrow lanes near the temple precincts around 2.30 am for the fire-walking ceremony that is one of the highlights of the festival. According to eyewitness accounts, the devotees were hemmed in by thick ropes on a downward slope for crowd control, but a couple of women slipped and fell, sparking the stampede.
Vishal Gauns Dessai, a resident of Avedem-Kothambi, Quepem, who attends the zatra each year and was also present this year, said, “There was a massive turnout of devotees and the arrangement appeared to be poor. There was mismanagement. The attitude of some, who push ahead while proceeding towards the fire walking ceremony was to blame.”
The victims have been identified as Tanuja Kawthankar, her nephew Aditya Kawthankar, Yashwant Kerkar — all from Tivim — Surya Mayenkar of Sattari, Pratibha Kalangutkar of Cumbharjua and Sagar Nandarge of
Mathwada-Pilgao.
The injured were rushed to Goa Medical College and Hospital, Asilo North Goa District Hospital in Mapusa, and Community Health Centres in Sankhali and Bicholim. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant rushed to the hospitals early in the morning before ordering an inquiry into the incident by a fact-finding committee headed by Revenue Secretary Sandip Jacques. He also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh for
the injured.
“We will make the inquiry report public. Going forward, precautions would be taken for all temple festivals across the State to prevent such unfortunate incidents,” Sawant said.
According to GMC Dean Dr Shivanand Bandekar, 13 of the injured have been admitted in critical care, with five on ventilator support. Health Minister Vishwajit Rane further clarified that 22 patients are under treatment in other hospitals, including 18 at Asilo Hospital, three in CHC Bicholim and one in CHC Sankhali.
Stating that the health department and GMC took immediate and comprehensive steps to manage the situation, Rane said, “We coordinated with the 108 ambulance service, ensuring that five ambulances were dispatched to the site immediately after the incident, while three were at the North Goa district hospital. I am personally monitoring the situation at GMC, and heads of all departments have been directed to report on duty to ensure coordinated care.