Seven Dead, Over a Dozen Injured in Stampede at Bihar’s Ashok Dham Temple

Seven devotees were killed and more than a dozen others injured in a stampede at the Ashok Dham Temple in Bihar’s Lakhisarai district on Monday morning, as a massive crowd gathered for prayers during the third Monday of the holy Shravan month.

The victims, reportedly all women, had assembled at the temple to perform Jalabhishek and offer water to Lord Shiva. Four of the deceased have been identified as Manmala Devi (44), Rinku Devi (50), Hemlata Devi (55) and Lalita Devi (45), while efforts were underway to identify the remaining victims.

According to Lakhisarai District Magistrate Shailendra Kumar, the crowd surged sharply around 6.30 am, with two trains arriving around the same time adding to the rush. A section of the barricading subsequently broke, causing devotees to fall over one another and triggering the deadly crush.

Reports also said an electric pole or overhead wire fell, prompting rumours that a live wire had entered the crowded area and triggering panic. However, authorities have not yet established this as the definitive cause, and an investigation is underway to determine the precise sequence of events.

Police and district administration officials rushed to the temple as rescue operations began. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, while officials worked to control the crowd and restore order.

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed grief over the deaths and announced ₹4 lakh ex-gratia compensation for the families of each deceased devotee. The state government has also ordered an inquiry into the incident, with officials promising action if negligence is established.

The tragedy comes just months after a stampede at Bihar’s Sheetla Mata Temple in Nalanda, where nine devotees, including eight women, were killed in March.