What was supposed to be a night of devotion turned into chaos as a stampede during the annual jatra at Shri Lairai Devi Temple in Shirgao, Bicholim, left six people dead and over 30 others injured in the early hours of Saturday.
The tragedy struck around 3 am, when thousands had gathered for the festival that started on Friday. According to police, the situation spiralled out of control after a devotee lost footing on a steep slope near the temple’s approach road. This fall triggered panic among the tightly packed crowd, and before officials could respond, a rush of people led to a stampede.
Authorities confirmed that at least 10 of the injured are in critical condition and remain under close observation at Goa Medical College. Others are being treated at North Goa District Hospital in Mapusa and Bicholim’s Primary Health Centre.
CM and PM respond to the tragedy
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant visited the injured at the hospital and assured families of full support. Taking to social media, he expressed sorrow and said, “I’m personally monitoring the situation. A probe has been ordered to understand what led to this incident.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his condolences. In a message on X, he said he was saddened by the loss of lives and wished the injured a swift recovery. He added that the local administration is providing support to the affected families.
Crowd management under scrutiny
Despite a deployment of over 1,000 police personnel, including teams from the India Reserve Battalion, Goa Reserve Police, and North Goa district police, the situation got out of hand. The temple’s annual jatra draws thousands of devotees every year, and questions are now being raised about crowd control arrangements.
The Health Minister, Vishwajit Rane, confirmed that extra medical teams and ICU facilities have been arranged to manage the crisis and treat the critically injured.
Opposition reacts
Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, also offered condolences. Calling it a deeply saddening event, he said, “My thoughts are with the families who lost their loved ones. I also wish a speedy recovery to all the injured.”
While an official investigation is underway to pinpoint exactly what went wrong, locals and devotees are urging the authorities to take concrete steps to avoid such tragedies in future festivals. With such large crowds expected each year, safety planning and ground-level checks are now being widely discussed.
This incident is a grim reminder that even spiritual gatherings need strict protocols to prevent such heartbreaking outcomes.
