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Hindustan Times
03-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Stampede in north Goa temple kills 6, injures 70 during annual festival
Panaji: At least six people were killed and 70 others injured in a stampede on Friday night during an annual temple pilgrimage festival, Jatra, at Lairai Devi temple in north Goa's Shirgao village, state officials said. Jatra, held in honour of Sri Lairai Devi, is attended by thousands of devotees known as Dhonds, who circle a fire pit (homkhund) and walk over the burning hot coals. The event also draws lakhs of devotees and onlookers who gather to witness the spectators. '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,' Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant said on X, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi have taken a 'detailed stock of the situation, offering his full support during this difficult time.' Sawant visited the Asilo district hospital in north Goa and the Bicholim primary health centre to meet with the injured. Among the injured, ten patients are reported to be in critical condition and are under observation at Goa Medical College near Panaji. Health minister Vishwajit Rane said that additional doctors have been deployed, and a dedicated intensive care unit has been set up to provide focused care. The stampede took place around 3 am, a police officer said, requesting anonymity. He added, 'There is a steep incline to approach the temple. A huge crowd of devotees had gathered on that narrow stretch to offer prayers. The circumstances are not yet clear, but it appears that one person fell on that slope, which then led to a stampede.' Earlier, the Goa Police had said that the 'highest-ever deployment of police personnel had been made to maintain law and order and to ensure the smooth conduct of the annual zatra at Shirgao, Bicholim.' To ensure the smooth flow of traffic and proper parking of vehicles on Friday, traffic police along with 'one deputy superintendent of police, 14 police inspectors, 28 police sub-inspectors, 16 assistant sub-inspectors, 50 head constables, 310 police constables and 65 lady police constables from north Goa district police have been deployed for effective crowd control, safe and smooth passage to the devotees. Besides, three male platoons and two female platoons of IRBn and 50 police constables from Goa reserve police force have been deployed for Jatra bandobast,' police superintendent (north Goa) Akshat Kaushal, had said on Friday. 'Aerial drones have been placed for covering the Ariel view of Jatra/Festival and to maintain surveillance on the movements of the crowd. Vajra Van (riot control vehicle) is also stationed at the venue of Jatra. Plain cloth Police staff have also been deployed to keep check on the activities of criminals/anti-social elements and to prevent and detect crime like pick pocketing, eve teasing etc. Proper coordination is maintained with the managing committee of the Devasthan,' Kaushal had said.
The Sun
03-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Six crushed to death in India temple stampede
NEW DELHI: 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. 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. He visited the hospital and said that 'all possible support' would be given to the families of those killed or 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. 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.
Arab Times
03-05-2025
- Arab Times
Worshipers stampede at a temple in Goa, India, killing 6 and injuring dozens
NEW DELHI, May 3: At least six people are dead and dozens injured after a stampede at a religious gathering in the western Indian state of Goa early Saturday, the Press Trust of India news agency reported. The stampede broke out as thousands of devotees thronged narrow lanes leading to a temple in Shirgao village, some 40 kilometers from the state capital of Panaji, the agency quoted police as saying. Tens of thousands of devotees from Goa and neighboring states of Maharashtra and Karnataka attended the annual Hindu festival at Sree Lairai Devi temple. The stampede was caused as people standing on a slope near the temple fell over, pushing more people to fall onto each other, Director General of Police Alok Kumar said, according to the news agency. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Thousands of devotees known as Dhonds gather annually for the Jatra held in honour of Sri Lairai Devi, where they participate in the ritual of circling a fire pit (homkhund) and walking over burning embers. The event draws lakhs of devotees and spectators eager to witness the unique tradition. A tragic stampede occurred during the Lairai Zatra at Shirgaon early in the morning, prompting a strong response from authorities. '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,' Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stated on X. He also mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had reviewed the situation in detail and extended his full support during this challenging time. Sawant visited both the Asilo district hospital in North Goa and the Bicholim primary health centre to check on the injured. Ten of those hurt in the incident are reported to be in critical condition and are receiving treatment at Goa Medical College near Panaji. Health Minister Vishwajit Rane confirmed that additional medical staff have been deployed, and a dedicated intensive care unit has been set up to provide specialized care to those injured. A police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the stampede occurred around 3 am. 'There is a steep slope leading to the temple. A large number of devotees had gathered on this narrow path to offer prayers. While the exact cause is still unclear, it seems that one person fell on the incline, triggering the stampede,' he said. Goa Police had earlier announced the highest-ever deployment of personnel to maintain order and ensure the smooth conduct of the annual Zatra at Shirgaon, Bicholim. To manage traffic and ensure proper parking, a large team was deployed, including a deputy superintendent of police, 14 police inspectors, 28 sub-inspectors, 16 assistant sub-inspectors, 50 head constables, 310 constables, and 65 female constables from the North Goa police force. Additionally, three male platoons, two female platoons from the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRBn), and 50 constables from the Goa Reserve Police Force were assigned for crowd control during the Jatra, Superintendent of Police (North Goa) Akshat Kaushal had stated on Friday. Kaushal also noted that aerial drones were being used to monitor the event from above and track crowd movements. A riot control vehicle (Vajra Van) was stationed at the venue, and plainclothes officers were deployed to monitor for any criminal or anti-social activity, such as pickpocketing or harassment. Coordination was maintained with the Devasthan's managing committee to ensure the event's safety and order. Authorities ordered a probe into the incident. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was saddened by the loss of lives and expressed condolences to the victims' families. "The local administration is assisting those affected,' Modi said on social media. Deadly stampedes are relatively common around Indian religious festivals, where large crowds often gather in small areas. In January, at least 30 people died and many more were injured in a stampede as tens of thousands of Hindus rushed to bathe in a sacred river at India's massive Maha Kumbh festival, the world's largest religious gathering. In July, at least 116 people died, most of them women and children, when thousands at a religious gathering in northern India stampeded at a tent camp in Hathras town.
Malay Mail
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Six killed, 80 injured in stampede at India's Lairai Devi temple during fire-walking ritual
NEW DELHI, May 3 — Six people were crushed to death at a Hindu temple in India's coastal state of Goa, officials said today, after thousands gathered for a popular fire-walking ritual. 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 this morning. 'Six people died even before they could be brought to the hospital,' Sawant told reporters. He visited the hospital and said that 'all possible support' would be given to the families of those killed or 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. 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. — AFP
India Gazette
03-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Goa CM visits Shirgao, directs state administration to conduct inquiry into stampede
Panaji (Goa) [India], May 3 (ANI): Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant visited Shirgao after a stampede occurred during the Lairai Devi jatra, resulting in six deaths and over 50 injuries. The stampede incident took place on Saturday at around 4-5 AM. Goa Chief Minister directed the state administration to conduct an inquiry into the incident. Sawant said that this is the first such incident in Goa, and added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called to enquire about the situation. Speaking to ANI, Pramod Sawant said, 'The unfortunate stampede incident took place today at around 4-5 AM. This is the first time a stampede incident has taken place in Goa. I have reached the spot right now. I met the injured at different hospitals. Six people died in the incident. I have asked the State administration to conduct an inquiry into the incident... PM Modi called me and enquired about the incident...' Meanwhile, Maem MLA Premendra Shet said that Lairai Devi Jatra has been underway since Friday. The incident took place because of the slippery and sloped area near the temple, causing some devotees to fall and others to be trampled in the chaos. Maem MLA Premendra Shet said, 'Famous Lairai Zatra was underway since 3 am, at a sloppy area, some of the devotees fell on top of the others. A stampede situation occurred...6 people died in the of 4 have been kept at the district hospital in Mapusa, 2 bodies are at the Community Health Centre...4 injured are in critical condition...' President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed grief over the tragic incident of the stampede in Shirgao, Goa, which claimed six lives. (ANI)
