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Seven killed in stampede-like incident at Bihar temple
🇮🇳 India /Disasters & Emergencies

Seven killed in stampede-like incident at Bihar temple

From Hindustan Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Ongoing story
  • At least seven people died and several were injured in a stampede-like incident at Bihar's Ashokdham Temple on Monday.
  • Authorities are investigating the cause, with initial reports suggesting an electric pole may have fallen, leading to electrocution and panic.
  • A surge in devotees, partly due to two arriving trains, overwhelmed the temple's capacity, causing barricades to break and a crowd crush.

A stampede-like incident at Bihar's Ashokdham Temple on Monday claimed at least seven lives and left several devotees injured, police confirmed. The tragedy unfolded as a massive crowd gathered at the prominent Lord Shiva shrine in Lakhisarai district.

Seven casualties have been reported. It is being said that an electric pole fell there and people were electrocuted, which led to a stampede-like situation. We can tell you the exact reason only after verifying everything.

— Lakhisarai DM Shailendra KumarConfirming the death toll and the initial suspected cause of the incident.

Authorities are working to determine the exact cause of the crush. Initial reports from Lakhisarai District Magistrate Shailendra Kumar suggested that an electric pole might have fallen, potentially electrocuting some individuals and triggering the panic. However, Kumar stressed that the precise reason remains unconfirmed pending a thorough investigation.

Kumar noted that the crowd swelled "in an unprecedented manner," exacerbated by the arrival of two trains around 6:30 a.m. to 6:45 a.m. Despite arrangements made for the large gathering, barricading on one side of the temple complex eventually gave way under the immense pressure of the devotees. This structural failure led to people falling and being trampled, creating a dangerous stampede situation.

The crowd at Ashok Dham Temple swelled “in an unprecedented manner”.

— Lakhisarai DM Shailendra KumarExplaining the overwhelming number of devotees at the temple.

Ashokdham, also known as Indradamneshwar Mahadev Temple, is a significant pilgrimage site, particularly during the Sawan and Shivratri festivals. The incident has prompted an immediate response from authorities, with efforts focused on treating the injured and managing the aftermath at the temple complex.

We then came to know that barricading broke on one side due to the crowd and people fell on each other. We rushed 10-15 people here immediately.

— Lakhisarai DM Shailendra KumarDescribing the structural failure that contributed to the stampede.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hindustan Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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