03-05-2025
Survivors narrate narrow escapes, help from unknown devotees
Bicholim
:
Pratima
, from Tivim, was metres away from the spot of the
Shirgao jatra tragedy
. She had a narrow escape from the chaos, but her nephew she was accompanying wasn't so lucky. Sitting next to the seriously-injured Shashwat Naik, 29, at the
Bicholim community health centre
(CHC), she recalled how she averted becoming a victim too.
Shashwat was one of the 'dhonds' — or devotees — who observe fast and abstinence for over a month prior to the Shirgao jatra, to be able to participate in the rituals. Pratima was accompanying the survivor to help carry his clothes and other belongings.
'I was right behind when the
stampede
occurred. I had stayed a little behind to escape the chaos. When it took place, I was unaware of what had happened. There is no mobile range there either. Yet, someone managed to call me and tell me about Shashwat. I rushed to the spot,' said Pratima, Shashwat's maternal aunt.
At the Bicholim CHC, Shashwat was one of 38 who were brought in from the early hours of Saturday till afternoon. Some of them were then referred to
Goa Medical College
, Bambolim due to their critical condition, while others were referred to Asilo hospital, Mapusa. Some were lucky enough to secure a discharge with only minor injuries.
Chest compression from the stampede left Shashwat one of two
survivors
at the Bicholim CHC still undergoing treatment.
He was brought to the centre in an emergency services vehicle, the authorities possibly having run out of ambulances.
'I was participating in the rituals as a 'dhond', and the stampede took place at around 3am. Same say a security rope got entangled in a
devotee
's feet and that led to the stampede, but we will never know. I was barely conscious after being crushed in the stampede. I was conscious yet not fully conscious, unable to breathe,' said Shashwat.
'Someone happened to pull him out from below the pile of people and so he got saved,' said Pratima.
On another bed opposite that of Shashwat lay another survivor of the tragedy, Sanjay Gaonkar from Thane, Sattari.
'I felt someone push me when I was accompanying my nephew, who is a 'dhond'. I hit my head on a rock after the fall, and the next thing I know, I am undergoing treatment here. I went after many years to the jatra and had to endure this. I will be afraid now to attend the jatra next year,' he said.
