Goa Temple Stampede: CM Sawant Orders Probe With Fact-Finding Panel; 3-Day State Mourning Declared — Updates
A stampede at the Sree Lairai Devi temple in Goa left six people dead and over 70 injured. The incident occurred around 3 am when thousands of devotees gathered in the narrow lanes leading to the shrine.
At least six persons, including two women, were killed and more than 70 others injured in a tragic stampede during a temple festival in North Goa’s Shirgao village in the early hours of Saturday. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who visited the state-run North Goa District Hospital in Mapusa, where some of the injured were admitted, later inspected the site of the incident. His government announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh for those seriously injured.
VIDEO | Goa CM Pramod Sawant (@DrPramodPSawant) reaches the spot in Shirgao where a stampede broke out during a temple festival in the wee hours of Saturday.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 3, 2025
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/dv5TRAShcC)#Goa #GoaStampede pic.twitter.com/4AklxI36Mr
In a post on X, he stated, “A magisterial inquiry will be instituted to thoroughly investigate the incident at the Shirgaon Jatra. I will shortly be chairing a high-level meeting to review the entire situation and ensure appropriate action is taken.”
Speaking to reporters at the site, Sawant said a detailed inquiry has been ordered and assured, “We will make the report public”, news agency PTI reported. He further added that precautionary measures will be implemented for all temple festivals in the state to prevent such incidents in the future.
“I chaired a meeting today regarding the incident that occurred in North Goa. After the meeting, I requested a detailed report on what exactly happened. A magisterial inquiry committee comprising four members has been established, and they will submit a fact-finding report. A total of 11 patients are admitted to Goa Medical College and 8 to the district hospital — one of them is in serious condition, while the others are stable. Six people have lost their lives. The government has announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh for those seriously injured,” he told PTI.
VIDEO | Goa CM Pramod Sawant (@DrPramodPSawant) says: “I chaired a meeting today regarding the incident that occurred in North Goa. After the meeting, I requested a detailed report on what exactly happened. A magisterial inquiry committee comprising four members has been… pic.twitter.com/rnjA07aRze
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 3, 2025
The stampede occurred around 3 am at the Sree Lairai Devi temple, located approximately 40 kilometres from Panaji, when thousands of devotees gathered in the narrow lanes leading to the shrine for the annual festival.
According to Director General of Police Alok Kumar, “At least 30,000 to 40,000 people had gathered for the festival, and some were standing on a slope. A few persons fell on the slope, causing others to tumble on each other.” He added that 40 to 50 people fell, and the stampede was confined to that specific spot. Devotees from Goa, Maharashtra, and Karnataka traditionally attend the annual event in large numbers.
The Goa government has also declared three days of state mourning, as per news agency IANS.
Goa Temple Stampede: Six Officials Transferred Amid Probe
The Goa government on Saturday transferred five senior officials, including the North Goa Collector and the Superintendent of Police, to facilitate a free and fair inquiry.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, addressing a press conference in Panaji, announced that North Goa District Collector Sneha Gitte, Superintendent of Police (North) Akshat Kaushal, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Bicholim) Jivba Dalvi, Deputy Collector (Bicholim) Bhimnath Khorjuvekar, and Police Inspector Dinesh Gadekar have been transferred with immediate effect, PTI reported.
To investigate the incident, the government has constituted a fact-finding committee headed by State Revenue Secretary Sandeep Jacques. The panel also includes senior police officer Varma Sharma, State Director of Transport Parimal Abhishekh, and Superintendent of Police (South Goa) Tikam Singh Varma.
Sawant said the committee will visit the stampede site at Shirgao village and interact with all concerned parties, including the Collector, Superintendent of Police, and officials from Fire and Emergency Services. “The committee will prepare a report after speaking with all the concerned persons,” he added. The panel is expected to submit its findings by Sunday morning.
The Chief Minister confirmed that the death toll remains at six. Eleven injured persons were admitted to Goa Medical College and Hospital, of which five are currently on ventilators. Additionally, eight individuals are undergoing treatment at the North Goa District Hospital.
Goa Govt Forms Panel Of Senior Doctors To Treat 5 Critical Patients
In response to the tragedy, the Goa government has formed a committee of senior doctors from various departments to treat five critically injured victims at the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). According to PTI, state Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, after chairing a meeting with top health officials, said, “We have decided to form a dedicated committee of senior expert doctors from various inter-disciplinary departments who will be stationed round-the-clock at GMCH to manage five critically injured persons.”
Rane added that point-of-care management will be ensured for the comfort and well-being of the patients. A green corridor was created to swiftly transfer the critically injured to the trauma ICU without disrupting regular operations at GMCH. “Investigations were conducted immediately, and treatment was initiated at the earliest. The swift response and seamless coordination between the teams at DHS and GMCH has been commendable,” he said.
Thirteen patients are currently undergoing treatment at GMCH and are receiving the best possible medical care, the minister said.
Expressing concern over the incident, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Jayant Patil said, “I was told that in our religious areas, people gather in such large numbers because of the yatra. I think wherever such large yatras take place, the government and the local government should plan in such a way that only limited people can enter at a time, and there should be batch-type arrangements. We should take precautions to prevent such incidents”, news agency IANS reported.
Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra: On the Goa temple stampede, NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil says, "I was told that in our religious areas, people gather in such large numbers because of the yatra. I think, wherever such large yatras take place, the government, and the local… pic.twitter.com/zDtDnEesOn
— IANS (@ians_india) May 3, 2025
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish over the tragedy.
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