Goa
Seven die, 30 injured in stampede during annual Shri Lairai Zatra in Goa
At least seven people died and 30 others were injured after a stampede broke out during the Shri Lairai Zatra (an annual religious procession) in Goa’s Shirgao late on Friday.
The procession was taking place in the Lairai Devi temple.
The injured people were rushed to North Goa District Hospital for the treatment.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant went to the hospital to take stock of the situation.
The cause of the stampede is still not known.
Sawant said he is monitoring the situation.
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…
— Dr. Pramod Sawant (@DrPramodPSawant) May 3, 2025
In his X handle, the Chief Minister wrote: "Deeply saddened by the tragic stampede at the Lairai Zatra in Shirgaon this morning."
He said: "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."
Shirgao Jatra, also known as Lairai Zatra, is a prominent religious procession held in Goa every year.
The event attracts a large number of devotees every year.
The festival also includes a fire-walking ritual.
According to reports, the religious ritual is dedicated to the Goddess Lairai.
Rahul Gandhi reacts on X
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi mourned the loss of lives in the incident and wrote on X: "The news of the death of several devotees and injuries in a stampede during the annual pilgrimage to the Lerai Devi temple in Shirgaon, Goa is very sad."
गोवा के शिरगांव स्थित लैराई देवी मंदिर में वार्षिक यात्रा के दौरान भगदड़ में कई श्रद्धालुओं की मृत्यु और अनेक के घायल होने का समाचार बहुत दुखद है।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 3, 2025
सभी शोकाकुल परिजनों को अपनी गहरी संवेदनाएं व्यक्त करता हूं। साथ ही, सभी घायलों के शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की आशा करता हूं।
"I express my deepest condolences to all the bereaved families. Also, I hope for the speedy recovery of all the injured," he said.
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