Special Correspondent
Shirgao, Goa : A tragic stampede at the famous Layrai Devi fair in Shirgao, North Goa, claimed the lives of seven devotees and left at least 70 others injured, some of them critically, in the early hours of Saturday.
The incident occurred around 3:00 a.m. at the Layrai Devi temple, a revered spiritual site that draws tens of thousands of devotees each year. The fair had officially begun on Friday, and the tragedy struck barely into its second day, casting a shadow over the celebrations.
Eyewitnesses reported that a sudden surge in the crowd during a key ritual ceremony led to chaos and panic, resulting in the stampede. While the exact cause is yet to be confirmed, preliminary reports suggest that overcrowding and poor crowd control may have contributed to the disaster. Despite the presence of more than 1,000 police personnel and what authorities claim was full preparedness, the arrangements proved inadequate.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who had visited the fair on Friday along with his wife and other dignitaries including Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade, MLAs Premendra Shet and Carlos Ferreira, rushed to the hospital on Saturday morning to meet the injured and assess the situation. He expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident.
The Layrai Devi temple, located in the remote village of Shirgao in South Goa, holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for Goans and devotees across India. The temple and the surrounding village are known for strict observance of spiritual purity — alcohol, eggs, and meat are strictly prohibited, and animal slaughter is banned within the village limits.
Given the sanctity and scale of the event, the incident has left many stunned. “It is heartbreaking that such a tragedy took place at such a holy site. We demand accountability,” said a local devotee.
So far, temple authorities and local officials have not released an official statement, but sources indicate that a lack of clear evacuation routes, bottlenecks at entry points, and ritual timings overlapping with peak crowd hours may have exacerbated the situation.
As of now, several injured persons remain in critical condition, and rescue teams are still clearing the site. A temporary medical camp has been set up near the temple, and the state government has announced compensation for the victims’ families.
The Goa Police have urged the public to remain calm and have assured that stringent measures will be taken to prevent such tragedies in the future.
