Porvorim: The fact-finding inquiry committee, set up after the stampede at Shree Devi Lairai jatra, Shirgao, on May 3, 2025, recommended that govt should explore the possibility of dissolving the temple management committee and appointing an administrator, after following due process of law, if felt appropriate.Six people died and 74 others were injured in the stampede on the second day of the five-day jatra.The committee found that the organisers had failed to develop a multi-route circulation plan to avoid congestion along the primary pathway between the lake and ‘homkund’, the spot where devotees walk barefeet through burning coal.“No systematic assessment appears to have been undertaken using historical data, crowd arrival patterns, the festival’s growing popularity, an increase in the number of ‘dhonds’ year by year, and the nature of the visitors, particularly for high-density events like the homkund ritual,” the report said.The committee said the stampede could likely have been averted with proper planning, risk assessment, and the implementation of effective crowd management.During the inquiry, some injured victims informed the committee that a minor incident of a similar nature allegedly occurred in the past, wherein, in one of the cases, a devotee’s arm was critically injured on the day of the ‘homkund’ ritual, the committee said.“The committee is of the view that the key stakeholders, including the organisers, district administration, and district police, should review past occurrences and take adequate precautionary measures to prevent such untoward incidents,” the report said.Given that the jatra is an annual event, the organisers were expected to be familiar with prevailing crowd behaviour. “In this context, it was imperative for the organisers either to carry out a comprehensive risk analysis and preparedness exercise and/or to cooperate with the authorities and incorporate their inputs in planning and execution,” the report said.The organisers did not provide critical information regarding the expected number of visitors, potential risks based on past incidents, or options for alternative circulation routes. On the contrary, the committee found that the organisers appeared to disregard specific instructions issued by the revenue and police authorities on crowd management, instead focusing solely on the conduct of religious activities, the report said.
