Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: The Bombay High Court at Goa has instructed the State government to submit a detailed crowd management strategy for the upcoming Annual Shri Devi Lairai Zatra at Shirgao, following last year’s stampede that resulted in six fatalities and left nearly 80 people injured.
The directive came during the hearing of a petition requesting the court to ensure adequate safety arrangements for the festival scheduled to take place on April 21. The petitioners referred to the May 2025 tragedy and urged the court to intervene so that similar incidents can be prevented in the future.
The plea also called on the authorities to consider and implement the recommendations put forward by the Fact-Finding Inquiry Committee that was set up after the stampede.
During the proceedings, government counsel informed the court that a number of key measures have already been introduced to enhance safety and crowd control during the forthcoming event.
The High Court has given the State government one week to submit a brief affidavit outlining the steps already taken, as well as the long-term safety plan. The matter has been posted for further hearing on March 10.
