Panaji: Governor P. S. Sreedharan Pillai, who met the families of the deceased in the North Goa temple stampede case, said that it is time for Goans to rise to the occasion.
In an exclusive interaction with GNH, the Governor said that he was in Kerala when the incident happened. “I cancelled all my official engagements there and rushed back to Goa,” he said.
The Governor met the families of the deceased on Sunday. “Goan people as a whole should unite and help these families. This is the time for us to rise to the occasion and offer relief,” he said.
Pillai stated that after his arrival from Kerala on Saturday afternoon, he visited Goa Medical College and Hospital to meet the injured persons.
“Before me, the concerned ministers, the Chief Minister, and other officials had visited the patients and assured them of all possible support,” he said.
The Governor said that all medical facilities are being provided to the critically injured admitted at Goa Medical College and Hospital.
“They are trying their best to save the injured patients,” he said.
He pointed out that such an incident has occurred in Goa for the first time. “The state government is inquiring into what exactly happened. Different versions are being shared about the incident,” he said.
The Governor said that the state government and the temple committee have done all that was humanly possible.
When asked whether he would submit a special report on the incident to the President of India, the Governor said that his office usually submits weekly or monthly reports to Rashtrapati Bhavan. “I will not submit any specific report about this incident, but I am thankful to the President of India and the Prime Minister, who immediately intervened, condoled the deaths, and gave directions to the state government,” he said.
“Today I conveyed the condolences of the Prime Minister and the President of India to the families of the deceased,” he said.
