Initial reports indicate that overcrowding and insufficient security management triggered the chaos, although an official cause is yet to be confirmed.
Assistant Sub-Inspector, Arun Desai, from Bicholim Police Station said, “The incident happened around 3.30 a.m. on May 3. The annual Lairai Jatra was on May 2, people had started coming since early morning from across Goa and neighbouring States. It was so overwhelming for the police staff to handle the crowd as it increased as the day progressed. By late night, we could not understand how it had happened. We are assuming a person must have fallen down and tripped, and some people started walking over them, and possibly that is how the stampede broke out. We are still investigating the matter.”
Authorities are yet to release further details about the cause of the stampede or the identities of the victims.
The Shri Lairai Zatra, that started on Friday, is a deeply revered annual festival celebrated at the Shri Lairai Devi Temple in Goa’s Shirgao. Devotees from across the state and beyond gather to honour Goddess Lairai, believed to be a form of Goddess Parvati. The highlight of the festival is the traditional dhondachi zatra, during which thousands of devotees walk across burning embers barefoot.
India #Six killed#, dozens #injured in# Goa temple stampede
