Outpouring of grief as CMC chairperson’s last rites held at Palolem
DEATH OF CMC CHAIRPERSON
The Shigmotsav 2026 festivities, including the float parade and celebrations in Canacona was cancelled following the sudden demise of Canacona Municipal Council Chairperson Laxuman (Bakal) Pagui (46) late Sunday night.
Pagui passed away after he reportedly fell unconscious at his residence in Palolem. Pagui suddenly collapsed at home and was rushed to the Canacona Community Health Centre (CHC), where a doctor on duty declared him brought dead.
Canacona Shigmosthav Committee Working Presient Babesh Borkar announced on Monday morning that the Shigmosthav float parade scheduled for March 18 in Canacona Taluka, along with all the related programmes planned/scheduled on Tuesday at Ravindra Bhavan, Canacona as part of Shigmotsav celebrations, had been cancelled on account of the demise of Pagui, who was also the Shigmosthav Committee Welcome-Committee Chairman.
Meanwhile, the final rites of the departed CMC Chairperson Laxuman Pagui were held on Monday afternoon at the Palolem crematorium, after hundreds of people paid their last respects at his residence in Palolem.
A large number of people lined up outside the residence to pay their last respects to the late Pagui – the first chairperson to die while serving as chairperson of Canacona Municipal Council – after the body arrived following an autopsy at the South Goa District Hospital at Margao.
Sports Minister and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar was among the first to reach the residence of Pagui, while others who also paid their last respects were CMC Councilors Ramakant Naik Gaonkar, Vice-Chairperson Gandesh Madganvkar, Simon Rebello, Hemant Naik Gaunkar, Nitu Desai, Shubham Komarpant, Sara Naik Desai, former minister Isidore Fernandes, former CMC chairpersons Rajendra Desai, Sameer Desai, Diwakar Pagui, and Congress leader Janardhan Bhadari,
Paying rich tributes to the departed CMC chairperson, Tawadkar said the void created due to Pagui’s sudden passing away will be felt even more as he was a dedicated worker tirelessly working for the people.
Pagui is survived by his elderly mother and an elder brother. Other relatives and cousins reside nearby in Palolem.
He had assumed office as the fourth CHC Chairperson during the current term, having been sworn in on October 16, 2025. He was expected to serve until the upcoming municipal elections in the State.
Apart from his role in the municipal body, Pagui was also associated with the All Goa Kshetriya Pagi Samaj and was regarded as an active community leader.
Earlier this year, on February 6, he had participated in the inauguration of the newly constructed three-storey Administrative-cum-Commercial Building of the Canacona Municipality. He had even chaired the budgetary meeting of the council last week held in the Chairperson's cabin of the new building.
