The Stampede of Goa: The minor incident occurred in the same location during last year's festival.

Police officers conducted a stampede in a village in a village during a temple festival in the North Goa district on Saturday, May 3, 2025. Image source: PTI

A senior official said on Sunday (May 4, 2025) that a committee investigating stampede incidents at a temple festival in North Goa found similar incidents in the same event, and the site was prone to accidents.

Seven people were killed and injured by more than 80 people in the stampede as thousands of devotees filled the narrow driveway leading to the temple of Sree Lairai Devi, the goddess of Shirgaon village.

The official said the fact-finding committee was recorded by the government’s statements by senior police officers and district officials who were in charge of the event.

The government constitutes a committee chaired by Sandeep Jacques, commissioner and secretary (income), deputy inspector General Varsha Sharma, director of Transport Pravimal Abhishek and director of police officer Tikam Singh Verma, responsible for investigating the incident.

Talk to it PTI, The senior government official said the stampede broke out in slopes and was prone to such accidents every year, and the committee was trying to find the exact trigger.

“A similar incident we collected, but a smaller incident happened last year at the Temple Festival,” he said.

The official said the committee will also examine why no precautions were taken to prevent the incident.

“The committee has begun an investigation. It records statements by Tibetan Sneha Gitte, Chief of Police Akshat Kaushal, Deputy Chief of Police Jivba Dalvi Bhimnath Khorjuvekar, Temple Commits, Member of Temple Committee, others to obtain the exact picture of Destiny Day.”

He said several views are being collected during the investigation, which will be quarantined to form a strong factual report about the incident.

“It will take at least a few days to gather opinions and submit reports,” he said. The commission will also interact with people injured in the stampede.

“Some victims have been discharged from the hospital. We will give them a stable day of the day before recording their statements,” he said.

He said the committee also investigated the report that the battle between the two groups of pilgrims triggered the stampede.

He said the temple board allowed stores to be opened on the route, which further caused traffic in the area, despite the narrow driveway leading to the temple.

Police Director-General Alok Kumar said Saturday that between 30,000 and 40,000 people gathered at the festival, some stood on the slopes and they fell, causing others to roll on each other.

He said about 50 people fell on the slope, and the tramplers were confined to that place.