Latest news with #ShriLairaiZatrafestival
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Crowd crush at temple in India's Goa kills 6, injures dozens
At least six people have been killed and about 80 others were injured in a crowd crush at a temple in the western Indian state of Goa where tens of thousands of Hindu worshippers had assembled, officials said. The incident happened on Friday night as thousands of devotees thronged narrow lanes leading to the Hindu temple in Goa's Shirgao village, some 40km (24 miles) from the state capital of Panaji. People had gathered during the annual Shri Lairai Zatra festival at the Sree Lairai Devi temple, which is popular for events including firewalking rituals, during which devotees walk barefoot over a bed of burning coals to seek blessings. According to a report by the Press Trust of India news agency, 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. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said in a statement that he was 'deeply saddened by the tragic stampede'. 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's 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 local administration is assisting those affected,' Modi said on social crushes occur regularly at religious festivals across India, where large crowds often gather in small areas. In January, at least 30 people were killed and many more were injured 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 the northern Uttar Pradesh state. In July last year, at least 116 people died, most of them women and children, when a crowd of thousands at a religious gathering in northern India surged at a tent camp in Hathras town in the same state. Another 18 people, mostly women and children, were killed in a crowd crush at a train station in India's capital New Delhi in February.
Al Etihad
03-05-2025
- Al Etihad
Six killed, dozens injured in India temple stampede
3 May 2025 11:45 NEW DELHI (REUTERS)At least six people were killed and 55 were injured in a stampede at an Indian temple in the western coastal state of Goa where hundreds of devout Hindus had assembled, police officials said on stampede occurred on Friday night during the annual Shri Lairai Zatra festival in Shirgao village, which is popular for its events including fire-walking."Devotees were witnessing a religious ceremony and the frenzy caused during the rituals triggered a stampede," said V.S. Chadonkar, a police officer in Goa's state capital Panjim."Six people lost their lives and at least eight were critically injured," he said. Stampedes during large Hindu religious gatherings are routinely reported in India, as huge crowds gather in tight spaces often ignoring safety protocol.
Al Jazeera
03-05-2025
- Al Jazeera
Crowd crush at temple in India's Goa kills 6, injures dozens
At least six people have been killed and about 80 others were injured in a crowd crush at a temple in the western Indian state of Goa where tens of thousands of Hindu worshippers had assembled, officials said. The incident happened on Friday night as thousands of devotees thronged narrow lanes leading to the Hindu temple in Goa's Shirgao village, some 40km (24 miles) from the state capital of Panaji. People had gathered during the annual Shri Lairai Zatra festival at the Sree Lairai Devi temple, which is popular for events including firewalking rituals, during which devotees walk barefoot over a bed of burning coals to seek blessings. According to a report by the Press Trust of India news agency, 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. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said in a statement that he was 'deeply saddened by the tragic stampede'. 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's 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 local administration is assisting those affected,' Modi said on social media. Deadly crushes occur regularly at religious festivals across India, where large crowds often gather in small areas. In January, at least 30 people were killed and many more were injured 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 the northern Uttar Pradesh state. In July last year, at least 116 people died, most of them women and children, when a crowd of thousands at a religious gathering in northern India surged at a tent camp in Hathras town in the same state. Another 18 people, mostly women and children, were killed in a crowd crush at a train station in India's capital New Delhi in February.
India Today
03-05-2025
- India Today
Some stood on slope, few of them fell, others followed: What led to Goa stampede
At least seven people died and more than 80 were injured after a stampede broke out during a temple festival in North Goa's Shirgao village in the wee hours of Saturday. The incident took place at the Sree Lairai Devi what led to the stampede, a senior police official said nearly 30,000 to 40,000 devotees had gathered for the festival, with many standing on a slope near the temple. 'A few people fell on the slope, causing others to fall on top of each other,' Director General of Police Alok Kumar told to the police, about 40 to 50 people fell in the same area, triggering the stampede. The incident was confined to that particular spot. Thousands of devotees from Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka attend the annual festival at the Sree Lairai Devi Minister Pramod Sawant visited the injured at the North Goa district hospital. Sawant, in a post on X, said he had received a call from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who offered his full Goa Chief Minister also announced that an inquiry would be conducted into the temple stampede. Talking to reporters at the site, Sawant said, "I have asked for a detailed inquiry into the incident. We will make the report public."Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said that as many as 80 people are injured and are being is the most unfortunate incident. My whole team has been active the whole night they have been working. 80 people have been injured and brought to hospital. The focus of the Health department is to save the lives of the critically injured, which are about 10. More than 6 to 7 people have lost their life. Government is doing the best to save the lives,' the health minister Shri Lairai Zatra festival, which started on Friday, is a deeply revered annual festival celebrated at the Shri Lairai Devi Temple in Goa's Shirgao. Devotees from across the state and beyond gather to honour Goddess Lairai, believed to be a form of Goddess Parvati. The highlight of the festival is the traditional dhondachi zatra, during which thousands of devotees walk across burning embers Watch
Asharq Al-Awsat
03-05-2025
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Dozens Killed and Injured in India Temple Stampede
At least six people were killed and 55 were injured in a stampede at an Indian temple in the western coastal state of Goa where hundreds of devout Hindus had assembled, police official said on Saturday. The stampede occurred on Friday night during the annual Shri Lairai Zatra festival in Shirgao village, which is popular for its events including fire-walking, Reuters reported. "Devotees were witnessing a religious ceremony and the frenzy caused during the rituals triggered a stampede," said V.S. Chadonkar, a police officer in Goa's state capital Panjim. "Six people lost their lives and at least eight were critically injured," he said. Stampedes during large Hindu religious gatherings are routinely reported in India, as huge crowds gather in tight spaces often ignoring safety protocol.
