Margao – I express my Shradhanjali to all those who tragically lost their lives in the unfortunate incident during the Lairai Jatra. My deepest condolences go out to the bereaved families. In this moment of grief, I stand in solidarity with all those who are suffering. I also offer my heartfelt prayers for the speedy recovery of those who were injured, stated Madganvcho Awaaz and Youth Leader Prabhav Naik.
The incident has shocked the entire nation, and while many actions and reactions have followed, there are serious questions that must be addressed. It is not enough to express sorrow, we need answers, accountability, and preventive action, demanded Prabhav Naik.
A few months ago, the Government of Goa proudly declared that Shree Lairai Jatra is given State Festival status. This year marked the first celebration under that status. What special preparations were made by the Government to ensure safety at this year’s festival, in keeping with the elevated status?, questioned Prabhav Naik.
Lakhs of devotees attend this sacred Jatra annually. With key rituals like “Homkhan” and the main event occurring during the night, what was the preparedness level of the Disaster Management Authority? The government must place its complete Action Plan in the public domain, said Prabhav Naik.
It is also imperative to know:
- How many times Disaster Management Authority met in view of Shree Lairai Jatra which is given “State Festival” status?
- How many ambulances, fire brigades, and water tankers were deployed at the venue?
- What preventive measures were taken by the Electricity Department while issuing temporary connections to stalls?
- Who ensured that all wires were insulated and checked to avoid direct shocks and short circuits?
- What guidelines were followed while granting permissions for amusement rides and other temporary installations?
- Were structural safety and stability of those setups verified by competent authorities?
These are serious questions, and the Government must place before the citizens a transparent and fact-based response to all the concerns raised by Madganvcho Awaaz and others, demanded Prabhav Naik.
This tragic incident must serve as a wake-up call. The Government must learn from this and implement immediate corrective measures to avoid any such incident in the future, Prabhav Naik said.
Finally, responsibility must be fixed for the lapses that led to this tragedy. Those responsible, whether through negligence or oversight must be held accountable, and strict action must be taken, stated Prabhav Naik.
Let this not be just another incident that fades from public memory. Let it be a turning point for ensuring public safety at all major festivals in Goa, said Prabhav Naik.
