Six or more died and more than 50 were injured when a stampede broke out in the annual Lairai Devi Jatra festival at Sree Devi Lairai temple at Shirgaon, Goa, in the early hours of May 3, 2025. Panic settled over thousands of pilgrims at the festival as people were desperate to shift away from the jostling throng. Injured individuals were sent directly to nearby hospitals like Goa Medical College (GMC) and North Goa District Hospital, where critical patients were treated under specialized care.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant also went to the hospitals to meet the injured individuals and assured full support to the affected families. Sawant had his deepest condolences to the family for the disaster and said all was being done to limit the situation. Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane declared that emergency was promptly deployed and several ambulances were dispatched to the spot along with further medical attendants and ICU units to admit the casualties.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also offered condolences and had a word with CM Sawant over the issue, and assured the complete cooperation of the central government.
Thousands of pilgrims from Goa, Maharashtra, and Karnataka visit the annual festival, which features centuries-old traditions like fire-walking and a large procession in tribute to Goddess Lairai.
The reason behind the stampede is under investigation right away, even if there were some reports that panic was caused by an electric shock or wild rush among the crowd. The condition of the injured is still under observation by the authorities, with some patients still in critical condition and needing ventilators and intensive care.
This horrific mishap has distressed the nation thoroughly, and all political parties' leaders have condoled the loss of the victims and sent good wishes to the injured ones for their early recovery.
The local administration is dedicated to rendering full help in this tragedy.
