The Goa government announced the transfer of five senior officials, including the North Goa District Collector and the Superintendent of Police, following a stampede during a temple festival that killed six on Saturday.
“In order to ensure free and fair inquiry, the government has transferred District Collector Sneha Gitte, Superintendent of Police (North) Akshat Kaushal, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Bicholim) Jivba Dalvi, Deputy Collector (Bicholim) Bhimnath Khorjuvekar and Police Inspector Dinesh Gadekar with immediate effect,” Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said while addressing the media.
The chief minister also said that a fact-finding committee has been constituted by the government to probe the incident. The committee is headed by State Revenue Secretary Sandeep Jacques, and includes senior police officer Varma Sharma, State Director of Transport Parimal Abhishekh, and South Goa Superintendent of Police Tikam Singh Varma.
He stated that the panel would visit the stampede site in Shirgao and gather information from all relevant officials, including the Superintendent of Police, Collector, and Fire and Emergency Services personnel.
The fact-finding committee is expected to submit its report by Sunday morning.
Earlier, in a message posted on X, the Chief Minister had announced that a magisterial enquiry will be conducted to investigate the matter.
“A magisterial inquiry will be instituted to thoroughly investigate the incident at the Shirgaon Jatra. I will shortly be chairing a high-level meeting to review the entire situation and ensure appropriate action is taken,” he said on X.
While speaking to the reporters, CM Sawant assured that the inquiry report will be made public and that measures will be implemented to prevent such incidents at future temple festivals across the state.
The incident took place around 3 am on Saturday at the Sree Lairai Devi temple in Shirgao village, located about 40 km from Panaji. The stampede broke out as thousands of devotees thronged the narrow lanes leading to the temple for the annual festival, killing six people.
Eleven injured people have been admitted to Goa Medical College and Hospital, five of whom are on ventilator support. Eight more people are undergoing treatment at the North Goa District Hospital.