Shirgaon, Goa: A tragic stampede during the annual Lairai Jatra in Shirgaon, Goa, claimed the lives of seven devotees and left over 40 others injured. The incident occurred as thousands of pilgrims from various states had gathered for the religious event, leading to uncontrollable crowd pressure and chaos, reported the Hindu.
While the exact cause of the stampede is still under investigation, initial reports suggest a lack of effective crowd control may have triggered the panic. Despite prior arrangements and the deployment of special police teams and surveillance drones, the situation escalated beyond control, resulting in the deadly crush.
Local police arrived on the scene swiftly and rushed the injured to nearby hospitals for treatment. However, the identities of the deceased have not yet been officially confirmed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant expressed condolences over the loss of lives and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
This incident has once again raised serious concerns about crowd safety and event management during large public gatherings. Citizens and civil society groups are urging the government to implement stricter safety protocols and ensure better preparedness to prevent such tragedies in the future.
