Sanatan Prabhat > Post Type > News > National News > Stampede in Shri Lairaidevi Fair at Shirgaon (Goa)  : 6 dead, 80 injured

Stampede in Shri Lairaidevi Fair at Shirgaon (Goa)  : 6 dead, 80 injured

Panaji (Goa) – The revered Shri Lairaidevi fair held at Shirgao annually and known as the fire-walking festival where pilgrims walk barefoot over burning embers to honour the Goddess Lairai. In the stampede that happened during this fair, six persons died and about 80 devotees got injured. The names of the six dead pilgrims are Surya Mayekar (Sankhali), Aditya Kavathankar and Tanuja Kavathankar (Avachitwado, Thivi), Yashawant Kerkar (Madel, Thivi), Pratibha Kalangutkar (Kumbharjuve), and Sagar Nandarge (Mathwada, Pilgaon). Devotees injured in the stampede have been admitted to different hospitals in Goa for treatment. About 15 persons are in serious condition and have been admitted to Goa Medical College, Bamboli for the treatment; the condition of eight out of them is critical. The incident happened on 03.05.2025 around 3.30 a.m. As per the information received, some pilgrims were standing on the slope near the temple. They got caught in the rope held by the Police to control the dense crowd and fell down. It resulted in pilgrims falling over each other. Some of them died of suffocation.

Incident at Shirgao most unfortunate – CM Dr Pramod Sawant

Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant immediately went to the place of incident. He said it was a very unfortunate incident while expressing anguish. He met the families of the victims and consoled them. He also visited different hospitals where the injured devotees are being treated. All the Government programmes have been cancelled for the next three days. CM informed that the North Goa District Collector and Superintendent of Police would investigate the matter.  

PM Narendra Modi expresses grief over the mishap

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief when he learnt about the stampede at Shirgao (Goa) fair. He stated that he joins the family members of the victims in their grief, and wished for quick recovery of the injured. PM Modi assured that the local administration was helping the affected people in the mishap.

‘Dhond’ are responsible for the mishap and not the administration – Temple Committee

(Dhond means the votarists of Shri Lairaidevi observing vows )

Shri Lairaidevi Temple committee has held ‘Dhond’ responsible for the mishap. While talking to the media along with CM Dr Pramod Sawant, temple committee president Deenanath Gaokar stated that the stampede occurred due to uncontrolled ‘Dhond’. Neither the Government nor the Police Department nor the Temple Committee is responsible for the mishap. As per the information given by a few witnesses of the incident, ‘Dhond’ after taking bath at the lake, ran over devotees instead of on the burning ember.

Medical help will be obtained from outside if required – Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane

The devotees injured in the mishap, are being properly treated. We are prepared to get doctors from outside if needed, informed Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane. CM Dr Pramod Sawant, MLA Premendra Shet of Maem, MLA Shetye of Dicholi, minister Nilkanth Halarnkar and District Collector Sneha Gitte visited hospitals to check on the injured devotees.

Opposition demands inquiry into the incident

The Opposition parties have demanded high-level inquiry into the incident. ‘Goa Forward’- Chief  Vijay Sardesai has held the administration responsible for the mishap. He said that more than 1000 Policemen were deployed at the site of the fair and drones were used to control the crowd. How can such an incident still occur ? The Government should give Rs 1 crore to the family of every victim.

Transfer of North Goa District Collector and SP !

The North Goa District Collector Sneha Gitte, Superintendent of Police (SP) Akshat Kaushal, Bicholim Dy SP Jivba Dalvi and Police Inspector Dinesh Gadekar have been transferred. Mr Rahul Gupta (IPS) has been given the charge of North Goa SP.

Investigation Committee set up led by Sandip Jacques !

Under Mr Sandip Jacques (IAS), a special high-level committee has been set up to investigate the incident of stampede.

Help of Rs 10 lakhs to the family of dead while Rs 1 lakh for the seriously injured – CM

CM Dr Pramod Sawant has declared a financial aid of Rs 10 lakh each for the dead victims of the mishap at Shirgao and Rs 1 lakh will be given to the seriously injured pilgrims.

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