PANAJI
The fact-finding committee tasked with probing the deadly stampede during the Shree Devi Lairai Zatra in Shirgao submitted its report to the State government on Thursday. The panel handed over its findings to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Chief Secretary V Candavelou.
A statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office confirmed receipt of the report and said the government was in the process of examining its contents. “The Fact-Finding Committee constituted to conduct an inquiry into the unfortunate stampede incident at the Shirgao Zatra has submitted its report. The government is currently examining the findings. A formal statement will be made by the Chief Minister upon completion of the review,” the statement read.
The committee was chaired by Commissioner-cum-Revenue Secretary Sandeep Jacques, IAS, and included Deputy Inspector General of Police Varsha Sharma (IPS), Transport Director Pravimal Abhishek (IAS), and South district Superintendent of Police Tikam Singh Verma (IPS). The committee was dispatched to the site on the day it was constituted.
Reliable sources told The Goan that the committee conducted multiple visits to the stampede site with the members meeting the affected families including those injured; and recorded statements of North Goa Collector Sneha Gitte, Superintendent of Police Akshat Kaushal, Deputy Superintendent of Police Jivba Dalvi, and Deputy Collector Bhimnath Khorjuvekar, who was transferred from their respective positions soon after the tragedy.
The committee also recorded statements of members of the temple committee, villagers including Dhonds involved in religious rituals and several eyewitnesses who were in the queue when the stampede occurred.
Sources stated that the report is believed to have reviewed the roles and possible lapses of the local administration, police force and temple authorities.
CM Sawant, speaking at a press conference after the cabinet meeting, had said the government would inform the public about the committee’s conclusions once the review process was complete.
The stampede, which took place in the early hours of May 3, claimed six lives and left over 80 others injured. As earlier reported by The Goan, the committee also referred to a similar though non-fatal incident at the same location during last year’s Zatra.
One of the main observations was the temple committee’s failure to heed police advisories. Despite the narrow road leading to the shrine, stalls had been permitted on both sides.
