Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, May 3: At least 7 people were killed died and another about 65 children, men, women and senior citizens were injured in a stampede outside the Lairai temple at Shirgaon village in Bicholim in North Goa in the wee hours of Saturday.
As the in exact cause of the stampede was still being assessed, officials said the incident occurred around 3.30 AM when thousands of devotees had gathered from across Goa and parts of Maharashtra to participate in the annual Lairai Jatra at Shree Lairai Devi temple which began on Friday.
Among the injured, at least 10 people remain in critical condition and are under observation at Goa Medical College, authorities said.
“The circumstances are not yet clear, but it appears that one person fell on a steep slope near the approach road of the temple, which then led to a stampede,” a senior police officer said. The narrow stretch, crowded with worshippers, quickly became the site of chaos as people tried to escape the surge.
Assistant Sub-Inspector, Arun Desai, from Bicholim Police Station said, “The incident happened around 3.30 a.m. on May 3. The annual Lairai Jatra was on May 2, people had started coming since early morning from across Goa and neighbouring States. It was so overwhelming for the police staff to handle the crowd as it increased as the day progressed. By late night, we could not understand how it had happened. We are assuming a person must have fallen down and tripped, and some people started walking over them, and possibly that is how the stampede broke out. We are still investigating the matter.”
According to the Lairai Devi temple President, advocate Dinanath Gaonkar, the stampede was triggered when a devotee accidentally touched an electric bulb with his cane stick, received a shock, and collapsed onto others in the tightly packed crowd. He said approximately 50,000 to 70,000 Dhonds (followers of Lairai Devi) had gathered for the jatra.
“Around 50,000 to 70,000 Dhonds (followers of Lairai Devi) were here at the jatra… People in the crowd were pushing each other to get ahead in the crowd… Many of us villagers tried to stop them and resolve the issue. But these people were just not ready to listen to us. During this, some people went to a shop here, during which one person’s beth (cane stick) touched a bulb, and he suffered an electric shock. He fell on other people, and that’s how the stampede started…” Mr Gaonkar, said.
North Goa Superintendent of Police (SP) Akshat Kaushal said the police were still trying to determine the exact cause of the stampede. He said over 50,000 people were present inside the temple for the (Lairai) jatra, and around 400 police officers were on duty. And, he further added that this was the first time such an incident has happened at the festival.
Earlier in the day, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant visited stampede site and also the Goa District Hospital in Mapusa where the injured were being treated. He said, “I am deeply saddened by the tragic stampede at the Lairai jatra in Shirgaon this morning. I visited the hospital to meet the injured and have assured all possible support to the affected families.”
CM Sawant announced that an inquiry would be conducted into the temple stampede. Talking to reporters at the site, Mr Sawant said, “I have asked for a detailed inquiry into the incident. We will make the report public.” He said precautions would be taken in the future for all temple festivals in the state to prevent such incidents.
Mr Desai, however, said over 1,000 police personnel from 6 police stations were deployed for the festival. Mr Ramesh Gauns (74), a retired schoolteacher from Bicholim, said he had never seen something like this before in Goa. “For Goans, Goddess Lairai is a powerful protector of forest and water and is believed to bring blessings, peace, prosperity, and well-being. The word ‘Lai’ means plenty and ‘Rai’ means forest.
“The jatra also includes a palki procession where Goddess Lairai idol is carried through the streets with music, dance and devotional songs. Agnidivya, a fire-walking ritual is also organised where devotees, known as ‘dhonds’ walk barefoot over burning embers, a symbol of faith and purification. Every year we have devotees in large number, but this is the first time we have seen such an accident, it is heart-breaking.”
The President Droupadi Murmu and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi have expressed condolences over the stampede deaths. Ms Murmu said, “Sad to know about the unfortunate incident of a stampede in Shirgaon Goa which claimed several lives. I extend my condolences to bereaved family members and pray for quick recovery of the injured,” Ms Murmu said in a post on X.
Reacting to the incident, Mr Modi while expressing his condolences said via a post on X: “Saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede in Shirgaon, Goa. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected.”
The BJP’s Goa unit president Damodar Naik said the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) was monitoring the situation. Talking to reporters outside the Goa Medical College and Hospital near here, Naik said Mr Modi has spoken to Chief Minister to take stock of the situation. “The PMO is personally monitoring the situation in Goa. The centre has assured all possible help for the state,” the BJP leader said.
Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said. “The news of the death of several devotees and injury of many others in a stampede during the annual pilgrimage to the Lairai Devi Temple in Shirgaon, Goa is very sad. I express my deepest condolences to all the bereaved families. Also, I hope for the speedy recovery of all the injured,” he wrote on X.
The Opposition Congress condoled the incident, while the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) demanded that the Government order a probe to fix the responsibility for the stampede and take necessary action. The Opposition Congress condoled the incident and said medical and financial assistance should be provided to the victims.
The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee in-charge, Amarnath Panjikar, said the party stands in solidarity with the affected families, devotees and the entire community of Shirgaon. “We request the State Government to extend full support to the Devasthan Committee to ensure the safe and smooth continuation of the remaining four days of the Lairai Jatra, which draws lakhs of devotees to Shirgaon,” he said.
Mr Panjikar said adequate safety, crowd management, and emergency response measures should be put in place to prevent further mishaps during the ongoing celebrations.
All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), meanwhile, demanded that the Government order an inquiry to fix the responsibility for the stampede and take necessary action. AITC national spokesman Trajano D’Mello said the party extends sympathy to the victims’ families. He claimed that as per eyewitnesses, the stampede had occurred due to the negligence of the law-and-order machinery.
“The AITC demands that a commission be instituted to conduct an inquiry to fix the responsibility and take necessary action. The Government should immediately disburse an ex-gratia payment to those affected by death and injuries at this incident,” he said.
