Goa Stampede: At least seven people were killed, and over 30 people sustained injuries after a stampede occurred during the annual Jatra (religious procession) at the Shirgão temple in Goa on Friday.
The incident took place after a sudden panic swept through the massive crowd, triggering a rush for safety. According to the eyewitnesses, the situation escalated after a part of the crowd lost control. Locals and the volunteers at the temple rushed to pull people to safety.
#BreakingNews | गोवा के शिरगांव में बहुत बड़ा हादसा, धार्मिक जुलूस के दौरान मची भगदड़. हादसे में 6 लोगों की मौत, कई घायल #Goa #GoaStampede @Chandans_live @theanupamajha pic.twitter.com/b6BR1i8qIO
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Upon receiving news of the tragedy, the police and emergency services promptly arrived at the scene and launched a rescue operation. The injured were swiftly transported to nearby hospitals for medical attention.
The stampede took place as thousands of devotees thronged the temple to witness and participate in the centuries-old ritual at the temple, where barefoot ‘dhonds’ walk across a bed of burning embers, news agency IANS reported. The Shri Lairai Yatra is held in North Goa every year, attracting more than 50,000 devotees.
The stampede occurred when, at one point along the route, due to a downward slope, the crowd began moving rapidly all at once. According to reports, the injured were shifted to nearby hospitals.
North Goa Superintendent of Police Akshat Kaushal said, “Six dead and more than 15 injured in a stampede that occurred at the Lairai Devi temple in Shrigao.” The stampede took place amid the Shree Devi Lairai jatra, which commenced on Friday, with thousands of devotees flocking there.
Around 1,000 police personnel were deployed for the jatra as the administration is on its toes. Drones were also placed for aerial surveillance of crowd movements.