Goa Crowd Crush Claims 6 Lives, Injures 80

A religious gathering in Goa turned tragic on Friday night when a crowd crush at the annual Shri Lairai Zatra festival in Shirgao village led to the deaths of at least six devotees and injured around 80 others. The incident occurred as tens of thousands of Hindu worshippers crowded the narrow roads leading to the Sree Lairai Devi temple, located about 40 kilometers from Panaji, the state capital.

The stampede unfolded on a sloped pathway near the temple, where people reportedly lost balance and fell, causing others to tumble in a domino effect. The sudden surge created a pile-up, trapping many underneath. According to Director General of Police Alok Kumar, the tightly packed crowd had gathered for the firewalking ritual, one of the main attractions of the festival, where barefoot devotees walk over burning embers to seek blessings.

Goa’s Chief Minister Pramod Sawant expressed sorrow over the tragic event and assured that the state government would extend full support to victims’ families. He visited the injured in hospital and promised assistance for their treatment and recovery. Health Minister Vishwajit Rane confirmed that five people remain in critical condition on ventilator support, while others are receiving care in a special emergency ward set up for the victims.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families through a statement on social media, adding that the local administration is providing aid to those affected.

Unfortunately, such deadly incidents are not uncommon during religious events in India, where massive gatherings often exceed the infrastructure’s capacity. In recent years, crowd crushes have claimed numerous lives across the country, including 30 fatalities at the Maha Kumbh festival in Uttar Pradesh earlier this year, and a devastating 2024 stampede in Hathras that killed over 100 people, primarily women and children.

The tragedy in Goa once again underscores the urgent need for improved crowd control, safety planning, and emergency response systems at large-scale religious gatherings across the country.