Chaotic Location with Narrow Roads: Authorities Comment on Stampede Incident at Goa Temple
Panaji:_ A deadly stampede at the Sree Lairai Devi temple in Goa during the annual Lairai Zatra festival left six to seven souls in mourning and approximately 70-80 injured, with 10 hovering between life and death[1][2][4]. The incident occurred on a steep, accident-prone slope, a slippery slope that's seen minor incidents in the past[3].
As rituals continued at the temple with hundreds flocking on foot despite the temple committee's pleas, the fact-finding committee, appointed by the Goa government, delved into the chaos that unfolded in the wee hours of Saturday. A fight between two groups of devotees, congestion due to makeshift shops lining the narrow lanes, and poor lighting are among the factors under investigation[1][4].
The committee, headed by Sandeep Jacques, commissioner and secretary (revenue), has recorded the statements of key officials responsible for managing the crowd, members of the temple committee, and eyewitnesses[3]. The panel aims to gather inputs and file a report within a couple of days[3].
Meanwhile, three out of the five critically injured victims have shown signs of improvement, while the condition of none has worsened[3]. Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai expressed his condolences, acknowledging the incident as "beyond human expectation."
Despite the tragedy, devotees thronged the village, participating in rituals, and stalls selling offerings remained open[3]. Dinanath Gaonkar, president of the temple committee, acknowledged the incident but emphasized that the rituals could not be suspended[3].
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With the federal government offering assistance, steps may include limiting the crowd size, reinforcing steep slopes and pathways, deploying emergency response teams, and implementing real-time crowd monitoring[5]. The Goan government has not released a formal action plan, but the CM has stressed the necessity of providing "all necessary support" to the victims and implementing reforms to prevent recurrences[4][2].
- The unfortunate stampede at the Sree Lairai Devi temple in Goa during the Zatra Festival necessitated precautions, prompting discussions about crowd control, emergency response teams, and real-time crowd monitoring.
- The federal government is considering several steps to enhance security, such as limiting the crowd size, reinforcing steep slopes and pathways, and implementing new safety measures following the unfortunate incident at the Sree Lairai Devi Temple.
- The general news and crime-and-justice sections have been closely following the investigation into the stampede at the Sree Lairai Devi Temple in Goa, with a focus on factors like congestion, poor lighting, and conflicts between devotees.
- Despite the tragic stampede at the Sree Lairai Devi Temple in Goa, Pravimal, the president of the temple committee, highlighted the importance of implementing necessary security measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
