Seven killed, over 75 injured in stampede at temple festival in North Goa; PM Modi calls CM Sawant

Goa CM announces inquiry into temple stampede, says report will be made public

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced that an inquiry will be conducted into the temple stampede in North Goa, in which six people lost their lives in the wee hours of the day, and said the probe report will be made public. Sawant visited the stampede site at Sree Lairai Devi Temple in Shirgao village hours after the incident. Six people were killed, and several others sustained injuries after a stampede broke out during the annual festival at the temple around 3 am. Talking to reporters at the site, Sawant said, "I have asked for a detailed inquiry into the incident. We will make the report public." He said precautions would be taken in the future for all temple festivals in the state to prevent such incidents. Sawant said he visited North Goa District Hospital in Mapusa town in the early morning after he found out about the stampede. Earlier in the day, Sawant tweeted that he had received a call from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who offered his full support.

The Shirgaon temple was packed with devotees for the Lairai Devi jatra, the procession of Goddess Lairai and her siblings held annually during April or May. Lairai, who is believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Parvati, is among the seven sister deities in Goan folklore. The festival draws a huge number of devotees from across Goa, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. An elaborate security arrangement was made for the grand event last night in coordination with the temple committee. Over a thousand police personnel were deployed at the temple, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)-level officer. Dozens of other senior officers and hundreds of constables and women cops were part of the security structure. Several officers were in civilian clothes to prevent pickpocketing. The Goa Reserve Police Force was also on the ground. To ensure smooth traffic, over 300 traffic police personnel were deployed. The police used drone surveillance to keep an eye on the crowd. A Vajra Van, or riot control vehicle, was also on standby.

At least seven people died and over 50 were injured in a stampede at the Lairai Devi temple in Shirgaon, police said on Saturday. According to North Goa Superintendent of Police (SP) Akshat Kaushal, 6 dead and more than 15 injured in a stampede that occurred at the Lairai Devi temple in Shrigao, Goa. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant expressed sadness over the tragedy and said that he is personally monitoring the situation. Sawant also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to him and took detailed stock of the situation. "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 taken. Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji spoke with me and took detailed stock of the situation, offering his full support during this difficult time," the Chief Minister posted on X. Further details on the incident are still awaited.

PMO monitoring Goa stampede situation, says BJP; Opposition condoles deaths, demands probe

The BJP's Goa unit president Damodar Naik on Saturday said the Prime Minister's Office is personally monitoring the situation post the stampede at a temple, in which six people lost their lives. The opposition Congress condoled the incident, while the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) demanded that the government order a probe to fix the responsibility for the stampede and take necessary action. As many as six persons have died, and several sustained injuries after a stampede broke out during the annual festival at Sree Lairai Devi Temple in Shirgao village of North Goa in the wee hours of the day. Talking to reporters outside the Goa Medical College and Hospital near here, Naik said six people admitted at the facility were in critical condition. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to take stock of the situation. "The PMO is personally monitoring the situation in Goa. The centre has assured all possible help for the state," the BJP leader said. The opposition Congress condoled the incident and said medical and financial assistance should be provided to the victims. The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee in-charge, Amarnath Panjikar, said the party stands in solidarity with the affected families, devotees and the entire community of Shirgao.

"We request the state government to extend full support to the Devasthan Committee to ensure the safe and smooth continuation of the remaining four days of the Lairaee Jatra, which draws lakhs of devotees to Shirgao," he said. Panjikar said adequate safety, crowd management, and emergency response measures should be put in place to prevent further mishaps during the ongoing celebrations. All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), meanwhile, demanded that the government order an inquiry to fix the responsibility for the stampede and take necessary action. AITC national spokesman Trajano D'Mello said the party extends sympathy to the victims' families. He claimed that as per eyewitnesses, the stampede had occurred due to the negligence of the law and order machinery. "The AITC demands that a commission be instituted to conduct an inquiry to fix the responsibility and take necessary action. The government should immediately disburse an ex-gratia payment to those affected by death and injuries at this incident," he said.