At least six people were killed, and several sustained injuries after a stampede broke out during a temple festival in North Goa, officials said on Saturday. The incident occurred at Sree Lairai Devi temple in Shirgao village, says local police.
Thousands of devotees from Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka had gathered at the temple for the festival, he said, adding that the exact cause of the stampede would be ascertained after a probe, reports agencies from PANAJI, India.
The incident took place when panic spread during the large religious gathering, causing a sudden rush. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as people struggled to escape the dense crowd. Emergency services and police officials were rushed to the site, and rescue operations were started. The injured have been shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant met the injured at the North Goa district hospital.
Authorities are yet to confirm the exact cause of the stampede, but preliminary reports suggest it took place due to overcrowding and a lack of crowd control measures. The Shirgaon jatra or the Lairai Devi jatra is a Hindu festival, which is celebrated annually in the north Goa village of Shirgaon. It celebrates Goddess Lairai, believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Parvati and one of the seven sister deities in Goan folklore.
State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said at least 30 people sustained injuries, of which eight are in critical condition and two were referred to the Goa Medical College and Hospital in Bambolim. Eight injured persons were admitted at the district hospital, while 10 were treated for minor injuries, he added. Rane claimed the health department has taken immediate and comprehensive steps to manage the situation.
“We coordinated with the 108 ambulance service, ensuring that five ambulances were dispatched to the site immediately after the incident, while three more are stationed at the North Goa district hospital,” he said. Rane said additional doctors were roped in, and a dedicated ICU with ventilators was set up to provide consolidated care.
“All necessary arrangements have been made, and we are closely monitoring each patient,” he said.