Electric wire snap sparks panic among thousands of devotees at Ashok Dham Temple in Lakhisarai; more than a dozen injured.
At least seven people have been killed and more than a dozen others injured in a stampede at a Hindu temple in India’s eastern Bihar state on Monday, as large crowds gathered for prayers during the holy month of Shravan.
Seven Killed in Bihar Temple Stampede:
The incident took place around 6:30-6:45 a.m. local time near Ashok Dham Temple (also referred to locally as Indra Damneshwar Mahadev Temple) in Lakhisarai district. Thousands of devotees, predominantly women, had gathered to perform jalabhishek-the ritual offering of sacred water to Lord Shiva-on the third Monday (Teesri Somwari) of Shravan, one of the most significant periods in the Hindu calendar dedicated to the deity.
According to district officials, the crush began after an electric wire or pole snapped outside the temple premises, triggering panic among worshippers who feared electrocution. A section of the bamboo barricades then collapsed under the pressure of the surging crowd, causing people to fall over one another. Two trains arriving at Lakhisarai railway station shortly before the incident further intensified the already heavy footfall, with estimates of the gathering reaching as high as 50,000.
Lakhisarai District Magistrate Shailendra Kumar said the situation escalated rapidly due to the unprecedented rush. “The incident happened at 6:40 in the morning today due to a heavy rush of devotees… the barricade broke down, which triggered a sudden stampede,” he told reporters. Police and administrative teams reached the site promptly to manage the crowd and assist in rescue efforts.
Bihar Orders Probe After Temple Stampede:
The injured, all of whom are reported to be women, were taken to Lakhisarai Sadar Hospital for treatment. Some of those in more serious condition were being prepared for transfer to larger facilities in Patna. Four of the deceased have been identified as Hemlata Devi, Lalita Devi, Rinku Devi and Manmala Devi; efforts continue to formally identify the remaining three.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed grief over the deaths and announced an ex-gratia payment of 400,000 Indian rupees (approximately $4,800) to the family of each of those killed. Local political figures have pointed to possible negligence by the electricity department and called for a thorough investigation.
Crowd-related tragedies remain a recurring challenge in India during major religious festivals, when large numbers of devotees converge on temples, often in confined spaces with limited crowd-control infrastructure. Similar incidents have occurred at other shrines across the country in recent years, underscoring ongoing concerns about safety arrangements during peak pilgrimage periods.
Authorities in Lakhisarai have ordered a probe into the precise sequence of events and the adequacy of the arrangements made for the expected influx of worshippers. Police and district officials remain at the site as the investigation continues.