In the western Indian state of Goa, a stampede occurred during a Hindu festival, resulting in 6 people being crushed to death and dozens injured.
According to local media, including the Indian PTI news agency, the stampede happened early on the 3rd in the narrow alley of the Sri Lairai Devi temple in the village of Sirgao, about 40 kilometers from the state capital Panaji, where thousands of devotees gathered.
Alok Kumar, the chief of the Goa branch of the Korean National Police Agency, noted that "people standing on the slope near the temple fell, causing others to fall as well," and stated that the exact cause of the accident is under investigation.
Authorities reported that around 80 people were injured and are receiving treatment in hospital emergency rooms, and that 5 of the injured are in critical condition.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on social media and comforted the victims' families, stating, "Local authorities are supporting the victims."
The event where the accident occurred is the annual Sri Lairai Jatra festival held in the village of Sirgao, known for its ritual of walking on fire. Tens of thousands attended this festival, including people from Goa and neighboring Maharashtra and Karnataka states.
Earlier, in January of this year, a stampede occurred during the Kumbh Mela Hindu festival in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, where devotees participating in a bathing ritual resulted in 30 deaths and dozens of injuries.