A morning rush of devotees at a temple in Bihar’s Lakhisarai district turned tragic on Monday after panic spread among the crowd, leaving at least seven people dead and several others injured.
The incident occurred outside Ashok Dham Temple as a large number of devotees had gathered to offer prayers on the third Monday of the holy month of Sawan. According to officials, the situation may have escalated after an electric pole collapsed near the queues, triggering rumours that a live wire had fallen on worshippers.
The sudden panic caused intense pressure within the crowd, resulting in a stampede-like situation. Rescue and police teams quickly reached the area and began evacuating those affected. The injured were subsequently shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Lakhisarai District Magistrate Shailendra Kumar said the crowd had increased sharply in the early morning, with two trains arriving in the area around 6:30-6:45 am. Despite arrangements being made in anticipation of the heavy turnout, a section of the barricading reportedly gave way under the pressure of the crowd.
According to the district administration, the collapse of an electric pole further aggravated the situation. Although an electrical cable was reportedly involved rather than a live power line, rumours that people had been exposed to a live wire caused panic, particularly among devotees waiting in the women’s queue.
Officials said the situation developed extremely quickly, with the crowd reportedly becoming uncontrollable within a matter of minutes.
Sub-Divisional Police Officer Shivam Kumar said preliminary information indicated that the fallen pole may have contributed to the incident and that reports of electrocution were also being examined. He stressed that the precise sequence of events would only be established after a detailed investigation.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed grief over the deaths and directed the administration to ensure that those injured receive immediate and adequate medical treatment. The state government has also announced financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh for the family of each person who died.
The Ashok Dham Temple, also known as Shri Indradamaneshwar Mahadev Temple, is a major religious site in the region and houses a prominent Shivalinga. Devotee numbers traditionally rise substantially during Sawan, particularly on Mondays.
Authorities are continuing to verify the circumstances surrounding the incident and assess the crowd-control and safety arrangements in place at the temple.
