Key points
- Thousands had gathered for popular fire-walking ritual
- The annual Lairai Jatra was on May 2
- The incident happened around 3:30am on May 3
ISLAMABAD: Six people were crushed to death at a Hindu temple in India’s coastal state of Goa, officials said Saturday, after thousands gathered for a popular fire-walking ritual.
Assistant Sub-Inspector, Arun Desai, from Bicholim Police Station said, “The incident happened around 3:30am on May 3. The annual Lairai Jatra was on May 2, and people had started coming since early morning from across Goa and neighbouring States.
Acceding to the Hindu newspaper, it was so overwhelming for the police staff to handle the crowd as it increased as the day progressed.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said in a statement that he was “deeply saddened by the tragic stampede” at Lairai Devi temple in the village of Shirgao in the early hours of Saturday morning.
“Six people died even before they could be brought to the hospital,” Sawant told reporters.
Deeply saddened by the tragic stampede at the Lairai Zatra in Shirgaon this morning. I visited the hospital to meet the injured and have assured all possible support to the affected families. I am personally monitoring the situation to ensure that every necessary measure is being…
— Dr. Pramod Sawant (@DrPramodPSawant) May 3, 2025
He visited the hospital and said that “all possible support” would be given to the families of those killed or injured.
“Approximately 80 injured”
Vishwajit Rane, Goa state health minister said “approximately 80” people were injured.
“Five are critical and on ventilator support, while the remaining are being treated in the specially created emergency ward,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office expressed “condolences to those who lost their loved ones”.
The Lairai Zatra is a key Hindu celebration in Goa and is marked by a fire-walking ceremony, AFP reported.
Deadly stampedes are notoriously common in Indian religious festivals.
Earlier this year, at least 30 people were killed in an early morning crush at the Kumbh Mela, a Hindu mega-festival in the northern city of Prayagraj.
