At least six people were killed and 55 were injured in a stampede at an Indian temple in the western coastal state of Goa, where hundreds of devout Hindus had assembled, a police official said.
The stampede occurred on Friday night during the annual Shri Lairai Zatra festival in Shirgao village, which is popular for its events, including fire-walking.
“Devotees were witnessing a religious ceremony, and the frenzy caused during the rituals triggered a stampede,” said V.S. Chadonkar, a police officer in Goa’s state capital, Panjim.
“Six people lost their lives and at least eight were critically injured,” he said.
Stampedes during large Hindu religious gatherings are routinely reported in India, as huge crowds gather in tight space,s often ignoring safety protocol.
