Deadly stampede at Goa temple results in 7 fatalities, over 30 casualties
Stampedes at the Shri Lairai Yatra in Goa: At least seven people lost their lives and over 30 were injured in a tragic stampede that took place during the annual religious procession, the Jatra, at the Shirgao temple in Goa early on Saturday morning.
The chaotic scene unfolded when a sudden panic swept through the massive crowd, causing a rush for safety. Eyewitnesses reported that the situation spiraled out of control after a portion of the crowd lost control. Locals and temple volunteers rushed to rescue those caught in the commotion.
As soon as news of the tragedy reached the authorities, the police and emergency services swiftly arrived on the scene and launched a rescue mission. The injured were promptly transported to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.
Thousands of devotees had gathered at the temple to witness and participate in the centuries-old ritual where barefoot 'dhonds' walk across a bed of burning embers. The Shri Lairai Yatra is an annual event held in North Goa, attracting over 50,000 devotees.
Reports suggest that the stampede occurred when, at one point along the route, due to a downward slope, the crowd began moving rapidly all at once. The injured were moved to nearby hospitals.
North Goa Superintendent of Police Akshat Kaushal confirmed six fatalities and more than 15 injuries from the stampede that occurred at the Lairai Devi temple in Shrigao. The unfortunate incident took place amid the Shree Devi Lairai Jatra, which began on Friday. Around 1,000 police personnel were deployed for the event, and drones were placed for aerial surveillance of crowd movements.
Offering Support to the Affected Families
Goa's Chief Minister Pramod Sawant paid a visit to the hospital to review the condition of the injured individuals. Later, he shared his sympathies and expressed his commitment to providing all necessary support to the affected families. Modi, the Prime Minister, also spoke with CM Sawant to offer full support from the Centre at this difficult time. Goa's Health Minister Vishwajit Rane confirmed that all district hospitals were prepared to handle the emergency.
Investigating Systemic Lapses
The circumstances of the tragic incident have prompted an investigation to address any systemic lapses in crowd management protocols. The authorities are closely monitoring the situation to ensure that every preventive measure is being taken. Experts have suggested possible prevention measures, such as crowd density monitoring, terrain management, zonal segregation, pre-event simulations, real-time communication, and emergence response drills, to prevent such unfortunate incidents in the future. Specific recommendations for the Shree Lairai Devi Jatra include limiting the number of attendees, implementing timed entry slots, and conducting emergency response drills for volunteers.
Tragedies like the recent Hathras (2024) and Kumbh Mela (2025) stampedes underscore the importance of standardized crowd management protocols across Indian religious festivals. The Goa government is actively working to identify and rectify any systemic lapses in this incident.
- The unfortunate incident during the Shree Lairai Yatra in Goa, where seven people lost their lives in a stampede, has sparked investigations into potential systemic lapses in crowd management protocols.
- Amidst the general news and crime-and-justice headlines, the chaotic scene during the ancient ritual, where barefoot 'dhonds' walked across burning embers, resulted in accidents and injuries.
- Following the tragic stampede at the Lairai Devi temple in Shrigao, Goa's Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant, has offered support to the affected families, visiting hospitals to review the condition of the injured and expressing sympathy.
- In light of similar tragedies, such as the Hathras (2024) and Kumbh Mela (2025) stampedes, experts recommend preventive measures like crowd density monitoring, terrain management, and emergency response drills to avoid such incidents in the future.
