President Murmu and Prime Minister Modi offer condolences following the tragic temple stampede incident in Goa.
Revised Article:
Goa Tragedy: Condolences pour in after tragic stampede at Goa temple
President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed their heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims who perished in the devastating stampede during the annual Jatra procession at the Shirgão temple in Goa.
On social media platform X, President Murmu shared her condolences, saying, "Man! The Shirgao tragedy is heart-wrenching! Many lives lost, and several injured. I extend my deepest sympathies to the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured."
Similarly, the Prime Minister's Office posted on X, expressing their sorrow and concern, "Deeply saddened by the loss of lives in the Shirgao stampede in Goa. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured. The local administration is providing necessary assistance to those affected."
According to IANS, Prime Minister Modi spoke with Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to discuss the tragedy in detail and offered full support from the Central government.
Also in the news: 7 wiped out, Over 30 hurt in Goa Temple Stampede
On the other hand, CM Sawant took to social media posting, "I am devastated by the loss of lives in the stampede during the Lairai Zatra in Shirgaon today. I visited the hospital to meet the injured and assuring my support to the families affected. Personally, I'm overseeing the situation to ensure every necessary measure is taken."
The unfortunate incident took place during the Shri Lairai Yatra, a popular annual religious event, which attracts thousands of devotees to the temple in North Goa. During the ritual, devotees known as 'dhonds,' walk barefoot over a bed of burning embers.
Sources report that massive turnout, a sudden surge in the crowd, and a downward slope on a stretch of the route that caused a rapid surge of the crowd likely led to the stampede. Insufficient crowd management arrangements might have also played a role in the incident.
According to Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, all district hospitals have been put on high alert. He added that the hospitals are well-equipped to tackle such emergencies with strengthened medical infrastructure at Goa Medical College (GMC) and other district hospitals.
To assist families affected by the stampede, North Goa Collector Sneha S. Gitte released a helpline number. The press note stated, "In view of the unfortunate incident during the Devi Lairai Jatra at Shirgao today, general public and affected individuals are informed that for any assistance or information..."
The numbers to contact for assistance are:
- Deputy Collector and SDM, Bicholim: +91 8806562152
- District Control Room (North Goa): 0832-2225383
Behind the Scene:
Sadly, stampedes are often triggered by overcrowding, poor management, and panic. To minimize such tragic incidents, proper crowd management, emergency exits, effective communication, and training are essential. Regular emergency drills, community engagement, and technological solutions further bolster safety.
Considering Goa's popularity for tourism and events, additional measures can be taken, such as enhancing security measures, crowd monitoring, regular emergency drills, and community engagement for a safer environment.
- The health minister assured that all district hospitals have been placed on high alert, with strengthened medical infrastructure ready to handle such emergencies, specifically after the Goa temple stampede.
- Pramod Sawant, Goa's chief minister, expressed his sadness over the unfortunate incident and offered his support to the affected families, stating he is overseeing the situation to ensure necessary measures are taken.
- The tragedy at the Shirgao temple in Goa, caused by overcrowding, poor management, and panic, has highlighted the need for science-based health-and-wellness initiatives in crowd management to prevent such incidents in the future, particularly in popular tourist destinations.
- In light of the stampede, politicians and officials have emphasized the importance of politics and general news focusing on solutions to reduce accidents caused by poor crowd management during events, rather than simply reporting the tragedies.
- The increase in accidents in political rallies, religious events, and tourist attractions calls for a shift in focus towards health and wellness, including science-based investigations, improved crowd management, and technological solutions.
