At least seven people were killed and more than 30 others injured in a stampede during the Shri Lairai Zatra festival at the Shri Lairai Devi Temple in Shirgao village, Goa, late on Friday night. The stampede occurred during the annual religious event, which attracts thousands of Hindu devotees from across the state and beyond. The festival is famous for its fire-walking ritual, where participants walk barefoot over burning embers as an offering to the goddess.
Goa’s Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant, visited the injured at the North Goa District Hospital in Mapusa and Bicholim Hospital. He assured the public that the situation was being closely monitored and expressed condolences to the grieving families, promising full government support.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his sympathies, calling the incident “deeply distressing” and wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
The stampede occurred around midnight, when the crowd was at its peak. While the exact cause is still under investigation, preliminary reports suggest that a sudden surge of people near the temple triggered panic, leading to the tragedy. The injured have been taken to the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) and the district hospital, with several in critical condition.
Authorities are still working to identify the victims, and an investigation has been launched to assess crowd control measures and what led to the disaster. The Shri Lairai Zatra is an ancient tradition that honors Goddess Lairai, believed to be a manifestation of Goddess Parvati. The festival is characterized by a procession, drumming, chanting, and offerings, culminating in the intense fire-walking ceremony.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as people rushed to participate in the ritual, with many being pushed and knocked down. Some survivors reported that they couldn’t move due to the overwhelming crush. Despite expecting large crowds, local authorities have faced criticism over the adequacy of the safety measures in place.
The Goa government has promised compensation for the victims’ families and has called for a review of safety protocols to prevent such incidents in future religious gatherings.
