At least seven lives were lost and more than 50 people were injured in a tragic stampede during the annual Devi Lairai Jatra held in Shirgaon, Goa, early Saturday morning.

The tragedy occurred as thousands gathered to witness the ritual where barefoot devotees walk on burning embers. A sudden crowd surge on a slope led to chaos, causing the stampede.

PM Modi expressed grief and spoke to Goa CM Pramod Sawant, assuring support. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant visited the injured at the hospital, assuring complete government support to their families, while Goa Congress expressed condolences and hoped for the swift recovery of those hurt.

The Lairai Jatra attracts over 50,000 devotees each year.