Mumbai: A religious gathering turned tragic in the early hours of Saturday as a stampede at the Lairai Devi Zatra temple in Shirgao, North Goa, claimed the lives of six people and left several others injured. The incident occurred around 4 to 5 AM, when tens of thousands of devotees had gathered for the annual zatra (festival) of Lairai Devi, a revered local deity.
According to Dinanath Gaonkar, President of the temple and an advocate, the situation spiralled out of control when a devotee accidentally touched a light bulb with a cane stick while attempting to move through a shop area. The shock caused the individual to collapse onto nearby people, triggering widespread panic and a fatal rush.
“Around 50,000 to 70,000 Dhonds (followers of Lairai Devi) were here at the Zatra… People in the crowd were pushing each other to get ahead… 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…” Gaonkar told ANI.
The narrow lanes of the temple complex, already packed beyond capacity, became death traps as people rushed in confusion and fear. Despite the presence of nearly 400 police personnel, crowd control proved difficult due to the sheer volume of attendees.
North Goa Superintendent of Police Akshat Kaushal confirmed the heavy turnout and ongoing investigation: “We are still trying to determine the exact cause of the incident. However, we have been told that the stampede might have happened due to some people spreading rumours… The biggest challenge for us was to peacefully vacate more than 50,000 people… Around 400 police personnel were deployed… This is the first time something like this has happened on this occasion.”
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant visited the site later that day to assess the situation and extend condolences. The Goa government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident to determine accountability and prevent future tragedies.
