Panaji, May 3, 2025 — A religious gathering in Goa turned tragic late Friday evening when a sudden stampede at a spiritual congregation in South Goa’s Sanguem taluka led to the death of six individuals and left over 30 others injured. The incident occurred during a popular event organized by a local spiritual leader, drawing thousands of devotees from across the state and neighboring regions.
According to the Goa Police, the stampede took place around 7:45 PM when panic broke out due to overcrowding near the main pandal (canopy). Eyewitnesses reported a loud noise, possibly from a collapsing barricade, which triggered chaos among the crowd. In the ensuing rush, several people were trampled as others tried to flee the area.
“Preliminary investigations suggest that the area was not equipped to handle such a large crowd,” said South Goa Superintendent of Police Sunita Sawant. “We have deployed forensic and disaster response teams to assess what went wrong and who may be held accountable.”
Of the six people who lost their lives, three have been identified as elderly women, and one as a teenage boy. Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant expressed deep sorrow over the incident and announced an ex gratia of ₹5 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. He also assured that the state government would conduct a thorough probe into the organizational lapses.
Medical teams from nearby hospitals rushed to the site, and more than a dozen ambulances were deployed. “We received 28 injured people last night, five of whom remain in critical condition,” said Dr. Ramesh Kulkarni, Head of Emergency Services at Goa Medical College.
The event was part of an annual religious pilgrimage known for drawing massive crowds, but locals say security arrangements were lacking this year. “There was no proper crowd control, no emergency exits clearly marked, and volunteers were untrained,” said one attendee, who asked not to be named.
This tragedy has ignited a broader debate about event management and safety regulations in India. In recent years, India has witnessed several stampede-related disasters, including the 2022 Char Dham Yatra incident in Uttarakhand, where 16 pilgrims lost their lives. According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), stampedes at public events claimed over 150 lives between 2010 and 2020.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted condolences and offered central assistance. “Deeply pained by the loss of lives in the Goa incident. The Centre stands with the families of the victims. All possible support will be extended,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, the opposition has demanded the resignation of the State Tourism Minister and called for stricter oversight on large public gatherings. “This is a gross failure of administration. Religious events must not become death traps,” said Goa Congress leader Yuri Alemao.
As investigations continue, the focus is now shifting to enforcing stricter crowd control laws and ensuring emergency preparedness for mass gatherings, especially during religious and cultural events.
