Team Goemkarponn
BICHOLIM: A stampede at Devi Lairai temple in Shirgao claimed the lives of at least six people and left more than 80 injured last night.
The incident occurred during a major religious procession, the Lairai Devi Jatra, which takes place annually at the temple.
Thousands of devotees had gathered for the event, which is held in honor of Goddess Lairai, an incarnation of Goddess Parvati, as part of a traditional celebration.
The temple grounds were packed with devotees from across Goa, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, as part of the elaborate religious festival.
Authorities had taken extensive security measures, including the deployment of over a thousand police personnel, including senior officers, constables, and specialized units. There was also drone surveillance and a riot control vehicle on standby to maintain order.
At around 4:30 a.m., chaos erupted as panic spread through the crowd. Eyewitnesses reported a sudden rush among the devotees, with people pushing and shoving in an attempt to escape.
Initial reports suggest that overcrowding and a possible lack of proper crowd control measures contributed to the rush. Some accounts claim that an electric shock triggered the panic, though the exact cause remains unclear.
In the moments that followed, emergency services sprang into action, with police officers on-site quickly beginning rescue operations.
Tragically, at least six people, including a 17-year-old boy, lost their lives in the stampede, and over 50 others sustained injuries.
The wounded were promptly transported to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.
Despite the large security presence and planning, the stampede highlighted the risks of large gatherings, especially when unforeseen circumstances lead to panic in tightly packed spaces.
Police launched an investigation to determine the cause of the disaster and to review the safety measures for future events.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced that an inquiry will be conducted into the temple stampede and said the probe report will be made public.
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What Exactly Happened?
— The horrific incident took place around 4.30 am when there was a sudden rush and hands began pushing each other to reach the homkhand area.
— In that melee, eyewitnesses said the live electric wire which was connecting the roadside stall was cut and fell on one of the devotees, eyewitnesses said.
— Since there was a huge crowd the electric current passed on to many others, killing at least 6 persons.
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Why So Many Stalls?
While the road to the temple from Assonora side is narrow there are hundreds of shops which makes even walking a tedious task.
With thousands of devotees and dhonds present, the authorities should have restricted the shops.
The Goa Police, the temple committee and the panchayat have to answer some tough questions.
Now who is accountable for these six deaths?
Locals say it is because of the number of stalls.
When questioned, Temple committee president Dinanath Gaonkar squarely blamed dhonds.
He admitted the stalls have to be reduced but did not give any remedy.
“Most of the shops are private and 90 per cent of them are of outsiders,” said Dinananth.
He said the authorities and panchayat must look into the matter.
Soon after the incidents, a few stalls were razed at the incident site.
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Goa CM Orders Inquiry After Stampede
Team Goemkarponn
BICHOLIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant visited Shirgao on Saturday following a tragic stampede during the Lairai Devi Jatra, which resulted in six deaths and over 50 injuries.
The incident occurred around 4-5 AM at a temple located in a sloped and slippery area, which caused some devotees to lose their balance and fall, triggering a chaotic situation where others were trampled.
Sawant, who arrived at the scene shortly after the incident, confirmed the fatalities and expressed his condolences.
He mentioned that this was the first such stampede to occur in Goa and assured that a state inquiry would be conducted to determine the cause of the tragedy.
“I met the injured at various hospitals. This is the first time a stampede has taken place in Goa. Six people have died, and I have asked the state administration to investigate the matter,” said Sawant.
He also shared that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had reached out to inquire about the situation.
Maem MLA Premendra Shet explained that the stampede happened around 3 AM in a slippery area near the temple, which led to several devotees falling and being trampled in the chaos.
Four of the deceased were taken to the district hospital in Mapusa, while two were brought to the Community Health Centre.
In response to the tragedy, both President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Modi expressed their sorrow and condolences to the victims’ families.
