7 Dead, Over 40 Injured in Stampede at Shirgaon’s Lairai Jatra Festival
A tragic stampede during the revered Lairai Jatra in Goa’s Shirgaon village claimed the lives of seven devotees and left over 40 injured, including at least 20 in critical condition. The incident occurred on Friday evening, but news broke early Saturday morning.
The Lairai Jatra, held annually in the Bicholim taluka of North Goa, draws thousands of devotees from Goa, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. The festival is dedicated to Goddess Lairai and typically features mass gatherings, rituals, and processions from dusk to dawn.
This year’s event, which began on the evening of May 2 and was scheduled to continue until the morning of May 3, turned tragic when overcrowding led to panic and an ensuing stampede. Eyewitness accounts and initial reports suggest insufficient crowd control measures may have contributed to the disaster.
Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant promptly visited North Goa District Hospital and Bicholim Hospital, where several of the injured are receiving treatment. Emergency services, including ambulances and medical teams, are continuing to bring in patients from the site.
“The situation was extremely unfortunate. We are ensuring all possible medical care for the injured. A thorough investigation will follow to determine the lapses in management,” said Dr. Sawant in a statement.
Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of the death toll rising as several victims remain in critical condition.
The Lairai Jatra is one of Goa’s most significant religious events, known for its fire-walking ceremony and other traditional rituals. It holds deep cultural and spiritual meaning for thousands of devotees across the Konkan region.
Due to the large crowds that typically gather for the festival, local authorities usually implement crowd control measures, but reports from the ground indicate that this year’s arrangements were insufficient to manage the surge in attendance.
