KEY POINTS
- 6 dead, 30 injured during Lairai Devi temple festival in Shirgao
- Thousands attended Shirgao Jatra; 1,000 police and drones deployed
- Special ICU set up; Goa CM and PM Modi monitoring situation closely
A stampede broke out during a temple festival at the Lairai Devi temple in Shirgao, North Goa, early Saturday morning wherein at least six people died and others were hurt. The stampede happened during the Shirgao Jatra, which began on Friday and brought in thousands of devotees. Around 1,000 police officers were on duty, and drones were used to help manage the large crowd.
People from Goa, Maharashtra, and Karnataka had come for the festival. A police officer said that the exact reason for the stampede is still not known and will be found out after an investigation. Goa’s Health Minister, Vishwajit Rane, said that about 30 people were injured—eight of them are in serious condition, and two were taken to Goa Medical College and Hospital in Bambolim.
Eight injured people were taken to the district hospital, and ten others were treated for minor injuries. Rane said that five ambulances were sent right after the incident, and three more are at the district hospital. Extra doctors were called in, and a special ICU with ventilators was set up to treat the injured. He said, “We are taking care of every patient and watching their condition closely.” Chief Minister Pramod Sawant also visited the injured people in the hospital.
He took to X and posted, “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 taken. Prime Minister Modi spoke with me and took detailed stock of the situation, offering his full support during this difficult time”.
Hathras Crowd Crush
The Hathras crowd crush was one of the deadliest stampede incidents in recent Indian history, resulting in the tragic deaths of 121 people and injuries to over 150. The incident occurred in Mughal Garhi village, near Phulrai Mafi in Hathras district, Uttar Pradesh, during a religious event organized by a self-styled godman known as Bhole Baba (formerly a police constable named Narayan Sakar Hari).
Over 250,000 people gathered for a satsang (spiritual gathering) despite the event only having official permission for 80,000 attendees. The stampede took place after the event ended, as people began to leave.
Mumbai Bandra Terminus Stampede
On October 27, 2024, a stampede occurred at Bandra Terminus railway station in Mumbai, injuring 9 people, including 2 in critical condition. The incident happened early in the morning during the Diwali and Chhath Puja travel rush, when thousands of passengers were trying to board a special train.
The 22921 Bandra-Gorakhpur Express, an unreserved 22-coach train, was scheduled to depart at 5:10 AM. As the train was slowly maneuvered onto the platform around 2:45 AM, passengers began attempting to board, leading to overcrowding. By 5:56 AM, the situation escalated into a stampede as passengers, some carrying heavy luggage, jostled to secure seats.
The Western Railway had sold 2,530 tickets for a train with a 2,036 seating capacity, resulting in overbooking. The stampede led to 9 injuries, with 2 individuals in critical condition, all of whom were admitted to Bhabha Hospital.
Prayag Maha Kumbh Mela Stampede
On January 29, 2025, a tragic stampede occurred during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, resulting in the deaths of at least 30 people and injuring 60 others. The incident took place at the Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers, during the Mauni Amavasya bathing ritual, considered the most auspicious day of the festival.
The stampede occurred between 1:00 AM and 2:00 AM IST, when a massive crowd gathered for the sacred dip. Witnesses reported that devotees attempted to bypass barricades intended for ascetics, leading to congestion and suffocation. Despite the deployment of special police units and efforts to streamline rituals, the crowd became uncontrollable, resulting in the tragic crush.
New Delhi Railway Station Stampede
On February 15, 2025, a tragic stampede occurred at New Delhi Railway Station, leading to the deaths of 18 people, including 14 women and a 7-year-old child, and injuring several others. The incident happened around 8:00 PM on Platform 16, one of the busiest sections of the station. The stampede took place when two trains bound for Prayagraj—carrying pilgrims headed to the Maha Kumbh Mela—were announced at the same time on the same platform.
This caused mass confusion and panic among passengers, many of whom were carrying heavy luggage and traveling with families. The platform quickly became overcrowded, and in the chaos, people lost balance, fell, and were crushed in the rush. The situation escalated rapidly, with security forces unable to control the sudden surge.
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