Tragedy at Goa’s Lairai Devi Temple: 6 Dead, Over 15 Injured in Stampede During Jatra

Chaos erupted during the annual Lairai Jatra festival at Goa’s Shrigao temple, as a massive crowd surge led to a deadly stampede, leaving six dead and over a dozen injured.

Shrigao, Goa — A religious celebration turned tragic on Saturday as a stampede at the revered Lairai Devi temple in Shrigao claimed the lives of six people and left more than 15 others injured. The incident occurred during the annual Shree Devi Lairai Jatra, a major religious event that draws thousands of devotees from across Goa and neighboring regions.

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According to North Goa Superintendent of Police Akshat Kaushal, the stampede took place amid heavy crowding during the night-long rituals. Over 1,000 police personnel had been deployed to manage the massive turnout, with drones also being used for surveillance, yet the situation spiraled out of control.

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Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, his wife Sulakshana Sawant, MP Sadanand Shet Tanawade, and MLAs Premendra Shet and Carlos Ferreira had earlier visited the temple before the tragic incident unfolded.

The Lairai Devi temple is famed for its unique blend of north and south Indian architecture and its Shirgao Jatra, held every May. One of the festival’s key highlights is the traditional fire-walking ritual, a symbol of devotion and spiritual endurance.

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As part of the ritual, devotees perform a vibrant stick-clashing dance to the beat of drums inside the temple, followed by the lighting of a massive bonfire. In the early hours, after the flames subside, worshippers walk barefoot over hot embers, chanting in praise of Goddess Lairai.

The stampede reportedly occurred during one of the high-density moments of the celebration, possibly during the circular dance or as crowds gathered around the firewalk site. Local villagers from Maulingem and surrounding areas participate in large numbers, often pushing the temple’s capacity to its limits.

Authorities are now investigating the cause of the stampede and evaluating crowd management failures. Injured devotees have been rushed to nearby hospitals, and the state government is expected to issue a formal statement soon.

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