Bicholim, Goa | May 3, 2025 — A stampede during the annual jatra at the Shri Lairai Devi temple in Shirgaon, Goa, claimed at least six lives and left over 30 people injured early Saturday morning.
The incident occurred around 3 am when thousands of devotees had gathered for the festival. According to preliminary reports, the stampede was triggered after a person fell on a steep slope near the narrow approach road to the temple. Panic quickly spread as worshippers attempted to flee the area.
Among the injured, 10 people are reported to be in critical condition and are receiving treatment at Goa Medical College. Others have been admitted to the North Goa district hospital in Mapusa and a primary health centre in Bicholim.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant visited the affected areas and hospitals, assuring support for the victims. “Deeply saddened by the tragic stampede at the Lairai Zatra in Shirgaon,” he said in a post on X, adding that an investigation has been ordered into the cause.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several political leaders, including Health Minister Vishwajit Rane and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, also expressed condolences. Over 1,000 security personnel had been deployed for the festival, including members of the district police and reserve forces.
Emergency medical teams, including additional doctors and a dedicated ICU, have been mobilized as part of the response.
Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation and have urged devotees to remain calm as the investigation unfolds.
