Patna: At least seven devotees were killed and 12 others injured in a stampede at the Indramaneshwar Mahadev Temple in Bihar’s Lakhisarai district on Monday morning, as thousands gathered at the prominent Shiva shrine on the third Somvari of the holy Shravan month. Most of those who died were women.
The incident occurred around 6:40 am at the Ashokdham temple when a large crowd of devotees attempted to enter the shrine. According to Lakhisarai district magistrate Shailendra Kumar, some youngsters allegedly tried to force their way through the queue, resulting in the breaking of barricades erected by police to regulate the crowd.
“Women in the queue fell on each other,” Kumar said while rushing to Lakhisarai Sadar Hospital, where the injured were taken for treatment.
Crowd surge and panic trigger stampede
The temple reportedly witnessed an estimated 50,000 devotees, with crowds beginning to arrive from Sunday night. A queue stretching for more than six kilometres was formed, and pilgrims reportedly had to wait around four hours to enter the temple.
Eyewitnesses, however, blamed inadequate crowd management for the tragedy. According to local accounts, rumours of an electric current in a pole triggered panic among devotees, prompting people to run and causing further chaos. Locals and other devotees attempted to rescue those trapped in the crowd.
Police officials said the crowd had become restless and started jostling, but the situation was subsequently brought under control.
District officials said some of those reported injured had also fallen ill because of extreme humidity, suffocation and overcrowding. They were provided medical treatment, and officials said their condition was out of danger.
Bihar CM expresses grief
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed deep sorrow over the incident and called it “extremely tragic and heart-wrenching”. He conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased and directed the administration to ensure immediate and proper medical treatment for those injured.
The incident has once again highlighted the challenges of managing massive crowds at major religious gatherings. Bihar witnessed another temple stampede in March when eight people were killed and 12 injured at the Sheetla Mata Temple in Nalanda amid heavy crowds and reports of broken barricades.
Ashokdham, also known as the Indradamneshwar Mahadev Temple, is one of Bihar’s prominent Shiva shrines. The temple complex houses the main Mahadev shrine along with temples dedicated to Nandi and Goddess Durga. It witnesses particularly heavy footfall during Shravan and Shivratri.
The latest tragedy has renewed concerns over crowd-control measures, barricading, emergency access and the need for stronger safety arrangements at religious sites witnessing large gatherings.
