CM: Shirgao stampede reveals need to streamline processes to avoid tragedies

Panaji: A day after the stampede at the Shree Devi Lairai Jatra at Shirgao left six dead and 74 injured, chief minister Pramod Sawant visited the homes of the families of the deceased.
Sawant said that though the report of the fact-finding committee set up by him will take some more time to be ready, he has gathered from his interactions with those affected that many aspects of the administration need to be streamlined in handling such events.
After visiting the family of one of the deceased, Surya Nayekar, at Podocem, Sattari, Sawant said, “I had come to meet his son Pandurang, but he has been taken to Asilo Hospital for treatment. I could not visit them on Saturday. So I came here today (Sunday).”
He added, “The cheque of Rs 10 lakh financial assistance announced by govt will be handed to the families at the earliest, after the 12-day rituals are over. We will extend any further help needed by the families.”
The CM said he tried to understand from his interactions with the affected families and the injured what could have gone wrong on the ground. “After hearing out all the affected people, I feel there is a need to streamline processes. It is vital that the dhonds (those observing fast and abstinence to perform rituals at the jatra) show discipline,” Sawant said. “And it is also important that the administration streamlines many other things.”
Meanwhile, the Devi Lairai temple committee head, Dinanath Gaonkar, said that dhonds need to maintain discipline, while speaking about the stampede.
“The tragedy was very unfortunate and has occurred for the first time in the history of the Shirgao jatra. Since there were thousands of devotees, it was necessary dhonds and the devotees followed discipline and took proper care,” Gaonkar said. “Innocent people lost their lives in the tragedy. We will take stricter measures to ensure that such a tragedy does not happen in the future.”