At least seven women lost their lives and over a dozen others sustained injuries in a stampede at the Ashok Dham temple in Lakhisarai district, Bihar, on Monday morning. The tragedy unfolded around 6:40 a.m. as large influx of devotees,arriving on two trains,rushed to the temple to offer sacred water to Lord Shiva during the auspicious Hindu month of Shrawan.
The stampede was reportedly triggered by a combination of inadequate crowd management and a rumor that an electric pole had snapped, causing a panic that led to the collapse of a bamboo barricade. Eyewitness accounts describe chaotic scene as devotees surged toward the temple, overwhelming the area.
Lakhisarai District Magistrate Shailendra Kumar confirmed the circumstances surrounding the incident, stating that heavy rush of devotees was a significant factor. "The barricade broke down, which triggered sudden stampede. The district officials were present at the site to control the situation," he said.
In aftermath,the Bihar government announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹4 lakh to the families of each deceased . The victims have been identified as Manmala Devi, 44; Rinku Devi, 50; Hemlata Devi,55; Lalita Devi,50; Savita Kumari,35; Saroj Devi, 65; and Savitri Devi,49. Among the injured,three individuals were critically hurt and have been referred to Patna for specialized medical care .
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed his condolences, calling the incident "tragic and heartbreaking." He emphasized the need for prompt medical assistance for the injured and urged the administration to ensure their care. His sentiments were echoed by other political leaders, including Tejashwi Yadav, the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, who criticized the state government for failing to implement adequate security measures .
Yadav pointed to the lack of proper crowd control as indicative of administrative mismanagement . Local BJP MLA and State Agriculture Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha also raised concerns about the security arrangements, stating that a thorough investigation would reveal the facts surrounding the incident .
Former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar joined in expressing sorrow over the loss of life. Meanwhile,Ranbir Nandan,Chairman of Bihar State Board of Religious Trust, announced that a probe into the incident would be initiated,with a team set to visit the temple site.
President Droupadi Murmu conveyed her deep sorrow regarding the stampede,offering condolences to the bereaved families. In a post on social media,she described the news as "extremely painful" and extended her prayers for swift recovery of the injured .
Despite the tragedy,devotees continued to visit the temple throughout the day, maintaining their religious observances . The incident has raised serious questions about the management of large gatherings,particularly during religious events,highlighting need for improved safety protocols to prevent such occurrences in the future.
