Daijiworld Media Network - Goa

Goa, Mar 5: Ahead of the annual Dhond Fair of Shri Lairai Devi Temple scheduled in April, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday inspected the ongoing road widening works at Shirgaon to ensure improved crowd management and safety arrangements.

The inspection assumes significance in the backdrop of last year’s tragic stampede during the fair, in which several ‘Dhonds’ lost their lives. The mishap was widely attributed to congestion along a narrow stretch of road used by devotees after the ritual of throwing Dhonds and during their return to the temple premises.

In response, authorities have undertaken widening of the key approach road leading to the temple area. The infrastructure upgrade aims to facilitate smoother movement of devotees and prevent bottlenecks during the large-scale gathering.

Officials stated that the works are being expedited to ensure better access, streamlined crowd flow and enhanced safety measures during the Dhond Fair, which draws thousands of devotees from across Goa and neighbouring states each year.

The state government has assured that necessary precautions and improved arrangements will be in place to avoid any recurrence of last year’s unfortunate incident.