Indian police said on Saturday (May 3) that a stampede occurred in a temple in the western coastal state of Goa on Friday night, resulting in at least 6 deaths and 55 injuries.
According to Reuters, the police stated that hundreds of devout Hindu worshipers were participating in a festival celebration at the temple at the time of the incident.
The accident took place during the annual “Shri Lairai Zatra” festival in Shirgao village in the state of Goa, known for activities like walking on hot coals.
V.S. Chadonkar, a police officer in the capital of Goa, Panaji, said, “Devotees were watching a religious ritual when the frenzy led to the stampede.”
“6 people died, at least 8 were critically injured,” he said.
Stampedes are not uncommon at large Hindu religious gatherings in India. These rituals often see large crowds gathered in tight spaces, sometimes overlooking safety regulations.
On the evening of February 15, a stampede occurred at a train station in the Indian capital New Delhi, resulting in at least 18 deaths. Many of the victims were pilgrims traveling to Prayagraj to participate in the Hindu festival of Kumbh Mela.
On January 29, a stampede during the Kumbh Mela festival celebrations in India led to the deaths of at least 30 people.
On July 2, 2024, a stampede at a Hindu religious event in Hattrass, Uttar Pradesh, resulted in the deaths of at least 123 people.