After Goa temple stampede kills 6 and injures 80, officers transferred, CM seeks report in 48 hours

Panaji: A religious gathering turned tragic in Goa’s Shirgao village early Saturday, as a stampede during the annual Shree Devi Lairai Zatra fire-walking ritual claimed six lives and left more than 70 injured. The stampede occurred at the revered Lairai Devi temple, where thousands had gathered for one of Goa’s most prominent Hindu festivals.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant expressed deep sorrow over the incident and ordered a magisterial inquiry. “Six people died even before they could be brought to the hospital,” he told reporters.

“I visited the injured and have assured all possible support to the families.” The state has announced Rs10 lakh compensation for each of the deceased’s families and Rs1 lakh for those seriously injured.

Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane confirmed that “approximately 80 people” were injured, with five in critical condition on ventilator support. As of Saturday evening, 22 people remained hospitalised across four medical facilities — including Asilo Hospital in Mapusa, CHC Bicholim, CHC Sankhali, and Goa Medical College (GMC). Four of the deceased were brought dead to Asilo Hospital and two to CHC Bicholim.

Crowd control fails

The Lairai Zatra, known for its fire-walking ceremony, draws massive crowds annually. However, crowd control failed this year, sparking widespread outrage and demands for accountability.

Reacting swiftly, CM Sawant convened a high-level review meeting and announced the immediate transfer of four senior officials — North Goa Superintendent of Police Akshat Kaushal, Collector Sneha Gitte, Deputy SP Jivba Dalvi, and Deputy Collector Bhimnath Khorjuvekar — to ensure a fair investigation.

Rahul Gupta of the Crime Branch has been given additional charge as SP North Goa, while IAS officer Yashaswini B. was appointed the new Collector.

Sawant stated that a fact-finding committee, led by Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Revenue) Sandip Jacques, has been constituted. The panel also includes DIG Varsha Sharma, Director of Transport Pravimal Abhishek, and SP of South Goa Tikam Singh Verma. The committee has been instructed to visit the site immediately and submit a report within 48 hours.

The Goa Police have also filed an FIR against unknown persons for alleged negligence that triggered panic among the crowd.

The FIR, lodged at Bicholim Police Station, states that an unidentified individual’s gross negligence led to chaos, causing people to fall over one another in a stampede-like situation. The case has been registered under Sections 106(1), 125(a), and 125(b).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and inquired about the incident through the Chief Minister. Goa Governor P.S. Sreedharan Pillai, cutting short an official trip to Kerala, returned to Goa and will meet the CM and other officials to ensure maximum support to the affected families.

The tragedy has ignited calls for better planning and stricter crowd control measures during mass religious events. The Goa government has assured strict action based on the committee’s findings. Until then, all government festivities have been suspended for the next three days as the state mourns the lives lost in one of its most sacred annual events.