Latest news with #Jatra
Indian Express
14-05-2025
- Indian Express
‘Not act of fate', Goa temple stampede that killed 6 result of lapses, ‘fractured accountability': Probe panel
A government-appointed committee that investigated the stampede at a temple in Goa on May 3 has concluded that the tragedy was 'entirely preventable' and stemmed from 'a combination of poor planning, lack of enforcement, ignored directives, and inadequate infrastructure'. Six people were killed and at least 100 were injured in the stampede that took place during the annual festival attended by thousands of devotees at Lairai Devi temple in North Goa's Shirgao village in the early hours of May 3. The Jatra, held in honour of Goddess Lairai Devi, is attended by thousands of special devotees, called 'Dhonds', who come from across Goa and neighbouring states. The committee report flagged institutional and procedural shortcomings by the organisers (the management committee of the Shree Lairai Saunsthan), the district administration, police and the local body (village panchayat). The 'absence of basic crowd control infrastructure, disregard for specific administrative instructions and failure to utilise modern surveillance tools' contributed to a critical breakdown in safety, the report said. It said the stampede was 'not an inevitable act of fate' beyond human control, but a 'preventable tragedy resulting from systemic oversights and fractured accountability'. The committee found that the stampede was precipitated by a 'confluence of preventable lapses and oversights among key stakeholders'. 'The immediate trigger was overcrowding on the sloped pathway between Tali (the holy pond) and Homkhand (fire pit), compounded by the sudden surge and forward movement of a group of Dhonds, disregarding the protocol, which caused the fall of a person and a subsequent domino effect,' the report said. 'However, this critical incident was precipitated by a chain of preventable failures arising from inadequate crowd risk assessment, absence of unidirectional circulation planning, non-implementation of safety directives, ambiguity in sectoral responsibilities, failure to utilise surveillance tools, unregulated roadside vending and the lack of pre-emptive crowd behaviour management,' it said. The report said the crowd was permitted to enter the sloped pathway from Tali in groups, 'which were subsequently channelled into a two-by-two queue formation after the end of the sloped gradient leading towards Homkhand. This arrangement resulted in a build-up of people on the sloped section, causing overcrowding in that area. The overcrowding, coupled with attempts by some groups of Dhonds to push forward through the crowd and their unruly behaviour, caused instability among devotees walking along the slope'. As a consequence, a person fell face-first on the sloped section, triggering a chain reaction in which several people behind and around her lost their balance and fell over one another. 'Owing to the downward slope, limited visibility and the push of the crowd and unruly behaviour, the people approaching from behind were unaware of the fall and continued moving forward, leading to the stampede,' the report said. The stampede 'could likely have been averted with proper planning, risk assessment, and the implementation of effective crowd management strategies', it said. Releasing the report in a press conference on Tuesday, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the tragic incident was an 'eye opener'. 'The fact-finding committee has pointed out shortcomings by several stakeholders — the temple committee, the district administration, district police, village panchayat and crowd behaviour, and it is everyone's collective responsibility. The police have filed a case against unknown people and that inquiry will continue. The government will take action based on the recommendations (of the committee) in the next few days,' he said. Sawant said that to avoid such incidents in future, crowd management plans will be outlined in advance, in accordance with norms of the disaster management authority, for all religious festivals. A statement from the office of the Chief Minister said show-cause notices have been issued to eight officers in connection with the inquiry. Notices were issued to former district magistrate, North Goa district; former SP, North Goa; former deputy collector and SDM, Bicholim; former DSP, Bicholim; former mamlatdar, Bicholim; former police inspector, Bicholim police station; former inspector, Mopa police station; and panchayat secretary, Shirgao.
Indian Express
05-05-2025
- Indian Express
Before Goa stampede that killed 6, police suggestion on CCTVs, barricades fell on deaf ears
Days before six people were killed in Saturday's stampede during the annual Jatra at the Lairai Devi temple in Goa, police had issued instructions to the temple committee to install CCTV cameras at entry and exit points, make arrangements for queueing with proper barricading, and set up a public address system to avoid any untoward incident, The Indian Express has learnt. The committee said the CCTV cameras were not installed because there wasn't enough time, and that the barricades were not set up because on a previous occasion when they were in place, they had caused injuries to devotees. The instructions were issued during a meeting on April 30 attended by senior police and district administration officials. Those who attended the meeting included North SP Akshat Kaushal, Bicholim SDPO Jivba Dalvi, Bicholim police station inspector Dinesh D Gadekar, Bicholim Deputy Collector Bhimnath Khorjuvekar, Bicholim Mamlatdar Abhijeet Gaonkar, and Shree Lairai Devasthan president Shirgao Dinanath Gaonkar, as well as other members of the temple committee. According to the minutes of the meeting, police issued instructions to the temple committee members 'to tackle any eventuality and contingency'. The minutes said, 'Instructions were issued to the temple committee to install PA (public address) system near Lairai temple premises and homkhund (fire pit that is circled by devotees). The temple committee is also asked to install CCTV at all the entry and exit points, crowded areas, near the temple and homkhund, along with CCTV control room wherein adequate police staff would also be provided.' 'The temple committee is also requested to make necessary arrangements with regard to the maintenance of queue with proper barricading wherever required. The committee is also requested to assist police in crowd control and management during the festivity,' the minutes read. In another joint meeting on April 16, concerns were raised about crowd control at the temple site of Mahamaya temple, homkhund and the road approaching the temple. Temple committee president Dinanath Gaonkar said a meeting was held on April 16 in which discussions were held with various stakeholders and duties were assigned. 'Another meeting was scheduled for April 25, but it was postponed. On April 30, senior police officers came and gave (these) instructions. They said stringent action will be taken if instructions are not complied with. It takes at least 15-20 days to set up CCTVs. In two days, what can we do? Regarding the barricading (near the temple), we refused because on a previous occasion, when we had put barricades during the Jatra, some devotees had suffered injuries,' he said. Gaonkar said all the requisite precautions had been taken by the temple committee. 'There is no mistake on our part in this regard. We have given our statement to the fact-finding committee and it is for the committee to come to a conclusion on what led to the mishap,' he said. The Goa government on Saturday constituted a four-member fact-finding committee to investigate the incident. The government also transferred North Goa Collector Sneha Gitte, SP Akshat Kaushal, Deputy SP Jivba Dalvi, Deputy Collector Bhimnath Khorjuvekar, and Police Inspector Dinesh Gadekar. The stampede occurred between 2.45 am and 3 am, when a big crowd of devotees made their way through a steep and narrow stretch of road towards the temple. 'As the Dhonds (the devotees taking part in the Jatra) formed multiple queues, there was a lot of pushing and shoving in the crowd. One woman tripped, and due to the topography of the narrow road, several others fell, which may have led to the stampede. The fact-finding committee is recording statements of all the victims and officials and will soon submit a report,' a government official said. Eyewitnesses on Saturday said the stampede was caused by a scuffle among the unregulated crowd on the narrow stretch leading to the temple. The Jatra, held in honour of Goddess Lairai Devi, is attended by thousands of devotees called Dhonds. They come from across Goa and neighbouring states. In a fire-walking ritual at the Jatra, the Dhonds circle a fire pit and walk barefoot across burning embers — a spectacle that draws many spectators.
Indian Express
04-05-2025
- Indian Express
With two deaths in Goa temple stampede, a family from Thivim counts its losses
After patiently waiting in queue for an hour, Tanuja Kauthankar, 51, and her nephew Aditya Kauthankar, 16, had been carefully making their way down the steep incline leading to Lairai Devi temple in North Goa's Shirgao village early Saturday morning when a sudden push from behind them meant they were both thrown to the ground. In the next few minutes, the two were crushed under a crowd and died on the spot. The two were among the six killed in a stampede at the annual pilgrimage festival (Jatra) at Lairai Devi temple. Seventy people were wounded in the incident. 'He dreamed of being a police officer,' Aditya's uncle Kishore Kauthankar tells The Indian Express. 'He had the height too. A young life has been cut short.' As panic ensued and the crowd tried to escape, Tanuja's 15-year-old daughter Rutika, who had also accompanied them, also fell down but was rescued by some locals, her family says. She suffered a leg injury and is undergoing treatment at the district hospital in Mapusa. While Tanuja was a home-maker, Aditya had recently taken his Class 10 exams. At the mortuary of the Goa Medical College Saturday, the Kauthankar family, who are natives of Thivim village in Bardez taluka, counted its losses. 'If only the authorities had put up barricades…or managed the crowd better. Our loss is irreparable,' a relative, Urvesh Kauthankar, says. The jatra had been a family tradition – Tanuja had been going three decades while Aditya began attending four years ago. 'It is a tradition in our family,' Urvesh says. 'She (Tanuja) had been fasting for the last few days. When I spoke to her around 8 pm Friday, she said she would be going to offer prayers late at night, and promised to bring me back a marigold flower (given as offering).' Tanuja was eventually taken to the Mapusa hospital but was declared brought dead. 'We heard from people who were near her, that she fell and was crushed under several, who were rushing to escape. We shudder to think what she went through,' Kishore says.
Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Indian Express
How a series of failures led to the deadly stampede at Goa's Lairai Devi temple
A crowd of more than 1.5 lakh people, a scuffle between two groups of dhonds (devotees of Lairai Devi), inadequate queue and crowd control by the authorities, a narrow stretch on a steep incline leading to the temple, and rumours flying thick and fast – eyewitness accounts and a prima facie police probe have painted a grim picture of the circumstances which led to a stampede at the annual pilgrimage festival (Jatra) at Lairai Devi temple in North Goa's Shirgao village early Saturday morning. Six persons were killed and more than 70 injured in the stampede. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said a magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the stampede that took place around 2.45 am during the annual jatra (festival) at Lairai Devi temple in Shirgao village. While DGP Alok Kumar said a rumour is suspected to have caused the stampede, Sawant said at a press conference, 'Precautions were taken but there was one bottleneck. The jatra happens every year, but this kind of incident is taking place for the first time. I am not saying this incident was instigated, but even if unknowingly, there was a provocation that led to this incident, they too will be punished.' While police said adequate measures were taken for the festival, which is attended by thousands of devotees including those from neighbouring states, eyewitnesses blamed the stampede on crowd mismanagement. Urvesh Kauthankar, a 'Dhond' or devotee of Goddess Lairai Devi, said, 'It was a tragedy waiting to happen.' A screengrab from a video shot at the time the stampede took place (left) and the aftermath of the disaster caught later (right) (PTI photos) Kauthankar, whose aunt was among those dead, said, 'Police and district administration failed to manage the crowd. After taking a dip in the village pond, the devotees proceeded to a narrow road stretch (about 400 metres long), which has a very steep slope, leading to the temple. Police had put a rope to separate the queues of Dhonds and the public on both sides of the road. But the Dhonds created multiple queues. There was a lot of pushing and shoving. A scuffle broke out between the two Dhond groups and since the incline of that road is steep, people fell over each other and were crushed.' 'It was all over in a few minutes. There was chaos and panic as people tried to rush from the narrow road,' he said. Dismissing allegations that the rope caused people to trip leading to a stampede, Chief Minister Sawant said, 'The jatra is for everybody and everyone has a responsibility to maintain decorum. The rope that they say is responsible was being held by police and wasn't the cause of tripping. The Dhonds were supposed to walk within the rope, but some came from the outside and tried to enter the queue.' DGP Kumar said, 'The incident occurred around 2.45 am, maybe because of a rumour. The cause is being investigated. Around 150 to 200 people fell during the stampede. Immediately, police and volunteers conducted a rescue operation and shifted the injured to the hospital. Around 1,000 police personnel were deployed here yesterday (Friday).' Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant visits Goa Medical College, where those injured in the Shrigao stampede are undergoing treatment, in Panaji on Saturday. (ANI Photo) The festival includes a fire-walking ritual [Agnidivya] during which the Dhonds circle a fire pit and walk barefoot across burning embers. The ritual draws large crowds. Eyewitnesses said that around 2.30 am, a huge crowd of devotees made their way to the temple to offer prayers and Agnidivya. 'The topography of the road is such that a rope cannot hold back a very large crowd. The temple committee has allowed many temporary stalls selling food items, toys and souvenirs on both the sides of the road, which further restricts movement. Last year, a woman had died in a minor incident during the jatra. Over the years, the crowd has swelled to lakhs,' said Ramdas Kauthankar, an eyewitness who had come from Thivim for the festival. 'During jatra, the sentiments are heightened and religious fervour is high. The Dhonds are fasting for days and often there is a competition to race ahead. In such a situation, if someone falls, they cannot get up. And this is what happened,' said Kauthankar. 'The police personnel and ambulances were stationed quite a few metres apart, which delayed aid to the injured. Police should have released the crowd in phases. There was no crowd management.' Sujay Halarnkar, a resident of Sircaim, who suffered a fracture in ribs, was among the devotees undergoing treatment at Goa Medical College. 'In the chaos, as he was running, he noticed a minor girl behind him. As he tried to save her, he was trampled upon,' said his sister Sukanti Sadashiv Chodankar. Dinanath Gaonkar, president of the temple committee, said, 'Over 50,000 to 70,000 Dhonds were here at the jatra. People in the crowd were pushing each other to get ahead. One of the Dhonds was holding a bamboo cane stick [beth], which touched an electric cable and broke a bulb. There were some sparks, which led to a scuffle and this caused the stampede.' Police identified the dead as Aditya Kauthankar (16), Tanuja Kauthankar (51) and Yeshwant Kerkar (33), all from Thivim; Surya Nayekar (62) from Sattari; Pratibha Kalangutkar (54) from Corlim; and Sagar Nandadurgi (31) from Pilgaon. The Goa government also constituted a fact-finding committee, chaired by commissioner-cum-secretary (revenue) Sandeep Jacques. The fact-finding committee was directed to visit the site and submit its report within 48 hours. Chief Minister Sawant said, who visited the hospitals where the injured are undergoing treatment, said, 'This is the first such instance in Goa in recent memory and it should not happen again. Once the report is out, its recommendations will be pursued in all seriousness. What shouldn't have happened, has happened.' Sawant announced Rs 10 lakh compensation for families of those who died. 'Those who have suffered serious injuries will be given Rs 1 lakh each. We have already registered an FIR against unknown persons for causing a stampede,' he said. The government also transferred North Goa Collector Sneha Gitte, SP (North) Akshat Kaushal, Deputy SP (Bicholim) Jivba Dalvi, Deputy Collector (Bicholim) Bhimnath Khorjuvekar, and Police Inspector Dinesh Gadekar. State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said 74 people were admitted to various government facilities, out of which 22 remain hospitalised. Health department officials said five of the injured were critical.
Hindustan Times
03-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Stampede in north Goa temple kills 6, injures 70 during annual festival
Panaji: At least six people were killed and 70 others injured in a stampede on Friday night during an annual temple pilgrimage festival, Jatra, at Lairai Devi temple in north Goa's Shirgao village, state officials said. Jatra, held in honour of Sri Lairai Devi, is attended by thousands of devotees known as Dhonds, who circle a fire pit (homkhund) and walk over the burning hot coals. The event also draws lakhs of devotees and onlookers who gather to witness the spectators. 'Deeply saddened by the tragic stampede at the Lairai Zatra in Shirgaon this morning. I visited the hospital to meet the injured and have assured all possible support to the affected families. I am personally monitoring the situation to ensure that every necessary measure is being taken,' Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant said on X, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi have taken a 'detailed stock of the situation, offering his full support during this difficult time.' Sawant visited the Asilo district hospital in north Goa and the Bicholim primary health centre to meet with the injured. Among the injured, ten patients are reported to be in critical condition and are under observation at Goa Medical College near Panaji. Health minister Vishwajit Rane said that additional doctors have been deployed, and a dedicated intensive care unit has been set up to provide focused care. The stampede took place around 3 am, a police officer said, requesting anonymity. He added, 'There is a steep incline to approach the temple. A huge crowd of devotees had gathered on that narrow stretch to offer prayers. The circumstances are not yet clear, but it appears that one person fell on that slope, which then led to a stampede.' Earlier, the Goa Police had said that the 'highest-ever deployment of police personnel had been made to maintain law and order and to ensure the smooth conduct of the annual zatra at Shirgao, Bicholim.' To ensure the smooth flow of traffic and proper parking of vehicles on Friday, traffic police along with 'one deputy superintendent of police, 14 police inspectors, 28 police sub-inspectors, 16 assistant sub-inspectors, 50 head constables, 310 police constables and 65 lady police constables from north Goa district police have been deployed for effective crowd control, safe and smooth passage to the devotees. Besides, three male platoons and two female platoons of IRBn and 50 police constables from Goa reserve police force have been deployed for Jatra bandobast,' police superintendent (north Goa) Akshat Kaushal, had said on Friday. 'Aerial drones have been placed for covering the Ariel view of Jatra/Festival and to maintain surveillance on the movements of the crowd. Vajra Van (riot control vehicle) is also stationed at the venue of Jatra. Plain cloth Police staff have also been deployed to keep check on the activities of criminals/anti-social elements and to prevent and detect crime like pick pocketing, eve teasing etc. Proper coordination is maintained with the managing committee of the Devasthan,' Kaushal had said.
