Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: In the aftermath of the tragic stampede during the Lairai Jatra in Goa, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday underscored the urgent need for meticulous planning and crowd management at mass religious gatherings to prevent such mishaps.
“District administration must thoughtfully plan for events like religious fairs where there are large gatherings, to avoid any mishap,” Dhankhar said, addressing All India Service officers during a visit to the state.
The Vice President’s remarks come at a sensitive time, as authorities face public scrutiny over safety lapses during the annual fire-walking festival in Sanquelim that claimed multiple lives and left several injured.
Dhankhar emphasized the critical role of the civil services in maintaining public order and ensuring citizen safety. “The bureaucracy reflects the spirit of accountability and transparency, and can influence public mindset toward discipline, decorum, and public order,” he said.
He also cautioned bureaucrats against becoming overly aligned with political leadership. “Ingratiation of the bureaucracy with the political dispensation is bound to bring about its emasculation — it must be avoided,” he warned.
Citing India’s rapid development over the past decade, Dhankhar described the nation as an “aspirational society,” and urged the bureaucracy to facilitate access to opportunities and uphold citizen welfare, particularly in times of crisis.
The Vice President’s comments carry added weight amid a growing national conversation on administrative responsibility and preventive infrastructure for large-scale public events.
A deadly stampede occurred during the Lairai Zatra festival at the Shri Lairai Devi temple in Shirgao, Goa, on the night of May 2, 2025. The incident, which took place during the fire-walking ritual, resulted in the deaths of at least six people and injuries to over 80 others.
The chaos reportedly began when a devotee accidentally came into contact with an electric bulb using a cane stick, received a shock, and collapsed, triggering panic in the densely packed crowd.
