Six Dead, 30 Injured in Stampede During Temple Festival in North Goa
Panaji, May 3 – A tragic stampede during a temple festival in North Goa early Saturday morning claimed the lives of six people and left 30 others injured. The incident occurred at the Shri Lairai Devi Temple in Shirgaon, approximately 40 kilometers from Panaji.
As per agency report, the stampede broke out around 3 AM during the annual religious gathering, which draws thousands of devotees from across Goa, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. A senior police officer stated that narrow lanes leading to the temple became overcrowded as worshippers surged forward, resulting in chaos and panic.
Director General of Police Alok Kumar confirmed the death toll and said that many of the injured are currently undergoing treatment in various hospitals across the state. He explained that a slope near the temple became the focal point of the incident. Several people lost their footing on the incline and fell, triggering a domino effect where others stumbled over them, leading to the fatal stampede. Around 40 to 50 individuals were caught in the fall, though the situation remained confined to the sloped area.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant visited the North Goa District Hospital to meet the injured and assess the situation firsthand. In a message shared on social media platform X, he expressed deep sorrow over the incident and assured all possible assistance to affected families. He also stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken with him over the phone, offering full support and resources to handle the situation.
State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane reported that at least 30 individuals were injured, including eight in critical condition. Two of them were referred to Goa Medical College and Hospital in Bambolim, while eight others were admitted to the district hospital. An additional ten people with minor injuries were treated on-site.
The health department launched an immediate emergency response. Rane said the 108 ambulance service was promptly activated, deploying five ambulances to the temple area shortly after the incident. Three more were stationed at the district hospital. Additional doctors were summoned, and a dedicated ICU equipped with ventilators was set up to handle critical cases.
Rane affirmed that all necessary arrangements had been made and that the condition of each patient was being closely monitored. The tragedy has cast a shadow over what was meant to be a celebratory religious event and has prompted renewed discussions on crowd control measures at large public gatherings in the region.
