Tragedy struck during a major Hindu festival in India’s western coastal state of Goa as a stampede claimed the lives of six worshippers and left at least 55 others injured, authorities confirmed on Saturday.
The incident occurred on Friday night during the annual Shri Lairai Zatra festival in Shirgao village, renowned for its vibrant religious ceremonies, including the traditional fire-walking ritual.
According to police reports, the chaos unfolded when a surge in the crowd during a key ritual caused panic, resulting in a deadly stampede.
“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 are critically injured.”
Stampedes during large-scale religious gatherings are not uncommon in India, where massive crowds often converge in limited spaces, sometimes overwhelming available safety measures.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, while local officials are working to provide medical assistance to the injured and support to the victims’ families.
