At least 6 people dies and over 65 people injured in the Stampede incident that took place in Lairai Devi Festival Jatra at Shirgao village, Bicholim in North Goa in the early morning of Saturday. The incident took place at around 3:30 am.
In the Festival of Sree Lairai Devi annual Festival over 1000 people gathered from across Goa and parts of Maharashtra.
Assistant Sub Inspector, Arun Desai, from Bicholim Police Station said, “The incident happened around 3.30 a.m. on May 3. The annual Lairai Jatra was on May 2, people had started coming since early morning from across Goa and neighbouring States. It was so overwhelming for the police staff to handle the crowd as it increased as the day progressed. By late night, we could not understand how it had happened. We are assuming a person must have fallen down and tripped, and some people started walking over them, and possibly that is how the stampede broke out. We are still investigating the matter.” Reported by The Hindu.
Mr. Desai adds, “Over 65 people are injured, and the number could be more. 6 have died. The injured children, women, men and senior citizens are undergoing treatment at nearby hospitals in Ponda, Asilo, Mapusa and Goa Medical Hospital in Bambolim.”
Goa CM Pramod Sawant announces enquiry
Goa CM Pramod Sawant talking to media stated that, “I have asked for a detailed inquiry into the incident. We will make the report public.” He also visited the temple site where the incident took place in the early morning.
He stated through X, “Deeply saddened by the tragic stampede at the Lairai Zatra in Shirgaon this morning. I visited the hospital to meet the injured and have assured all possible support to the affected families. I am personally monitoring the situation to ensure that every necessary measure is being taken. Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodiji spoke with me and took detailed stock of the situation, offering his full support during this difficult time.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi express condolence
He stated through X, “Saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede in Shirgao, Goa. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected: PM @narendramodi”
Goa Temple Stampede Incident
Sree Lairai Devi Temple is known for its blend of northern and southern architectural styles, which host Shirgao Jatra every May. The festival includes a traditional fire-walking ritual and draws thousands of devotees.
At the midnight, crowd of devotees gathered around the huge fire at the temple, taking part in a ritual where they sit by the fire and make wishes. Many believe their wishes will come true if they join in. Some even walk on burning embers in a ritual called ‘Agnidivya’. However, it’s unclear if this ritual was happening when the stampede occurred.
At Around 4:30 am, a sudden rush broke out in the crowd. Panic spread quickly as people tried to escape, leading to chaos, according to eyewitnesses. Early reports say the rush may have been caused by overcrowding and poor crowd control.
“Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said a sudden electric shock might have triggered the panic, but the exact reason is still unknown.” Reported at NDTV.
