Six people were killed and dozens were injured in a stampede at a Hindu festival in Goa, western India.
According to Indian news agency PTI and other sources on May 3, the stampede occurred in a narrow alley near the Shri Lairai Devi Temple in Sirgao village, about 40 kilometers from Panaji, the capital of Goa, as thousands of devotees gathered in the early morning hours.
Alok Kumar, Chief of Goa Police, stated, "People standing on a slope near the temple fell, causing others to fall as well," and added that the exact cause of the accident is under investigation.
Local authorities reported that about 80 people were injured and are being treated in hospital emergency rooms, with five of the injured in critical condition.
This event is the annual Shri Lairai Jatra festival held in Sirgao village, which is famous for its fire-walking ritual.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
