Eight women killed in stampede at Sheetla Mata temple in Bihar’s Nalanda

A tragic stampede at the Sheetla Mata temple in Maghra village of Nalanda district , Bihar, on Tuesday morning has claimed the lives of eight women and injured more than a dozen devotees , officials and eyewitnesses said. The incident occurred amid heavy overcrowding as thousands of worshippers had gathered for prayers on the day, the last Tuesday of the Chaitra month and a festive occasion known as Sheetla Ashtami , traditionally drawing large crowds to the shrine.

The chaos began when the temple premises became dangerously congested early in the morning. Eyewitnesses described a sudden surge of the crowd as people pushed to gain entry for darshan , triggering panic and a stampede‑like situation in which many fell and were crushed. Some witnesses said barricades may have collapsed under the pressure of the crowd and that there were insufficient crowd control measures in place.

Disturbing scenes emerged from the site, with women lying unconscious and others being rushed to Sadar Hospital in ambulances, where the injured are being treated. Police and local officials quickly moved to clear the temple grounds and began rescue operations .

Two of the deceased have been identified by local sources as Rita Devi, 50, from Sakunt Bihar , and Rekha Devi, 45, from Mathurapur in Noorsarai , with efforts underway to confirm the identities of the other victims. Families of survivors described the gathering as “overwhelming” and said that the rush began suddenly, leaving little room to escape.

Bihar authorities confirmed that a formal investigation has been ordered into the tragedy, with officials seeking to determine how the situation escalated so rapidly and whether lax crowd management and inadequate security arrangements contributed to the disaster.

The tragedy drew swift responses from political leaders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow and announced an ex‑gratia compensation package of ₹2 lakh for the families of each deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also conveyed condolences and support for victims’ families. Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary assured government assistance for treatment of the injured and aid to the bereaved.

Local residents and devotees criticized what they described as insufficient planning and security deployment despite expectations of a large turnout on the special day, underscoring persistent concerns about safety at religious gatherings that draw high attendance. Authorities continue to manage the aftermath of the disaster, support affected families and investigate the circumstances that led to the deadly surge at the temple.