Daijiworld Media Network- Panaji

Panaji, May 3: The Goa government has ordered the immediate transfer of five officials, including the District Collector and Superintendent of Police (SP) of North Goa, just hours after the tragic stampede at a temple in Shirgaon village that claimed six lives on Saturday.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced that the transfers were made to facilitate an impartial investigation into the incident. The officials transferred with immediate effect include District Collector Sneha Gitte, North Goa SP Akshat Kushal, Deputy SP Jippa Dalvi, Additional District Collector Bhimanath Korjuvekar, and Inspector Dinesh Gadekar.

Addressing a press conference, CM Sawant said that a fact-finding committee has been constituted to probe the incident. The committee will be chaired by Revenue Department Secretary Sandeep Jacques and will include senior police officer Verma Sharma, Parimala Abhishek, Transport Department Director Tikam Singh Verma, and South Goa SP as members.

"The committee will visit the site of the incident, collect information from affected families, and record statements from the district administration, police, and emergency service departments," he said.

The chief minister added that the committee is expected to submit its report by Sunday morning. As per official figures, six people died and 11 others were injured in the stampede. The injured have been admitted to Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC), with five of them reportedly on ventilator support. Others are receiving treatment at hospitals in North Goa.

The incident occurred around 3 am during the annual festival at the Shri Lairai Devi Temple in Shirgaon village, located about 40 kilometers from Panaji. An estimated 30,000 to 40,000 devotees had gathered for the event. The stampede resulted in the death of at least six people and left over 30 injured.