Seven devotees died and several were injured in a stampede-like incident at Bihar’s Ashok Dham Temple in Lakhisarai during a heavy Shravan Monday rush.
Lakhisarai, Bihar: At least seven devotees have died and several others were injured in a stampede-like incident at the Ashok Dham Temple in Bihar’s Lakhisarai district on Monday morning, officials said. Initial reports had put the death toll at six, but authorities later confirmed that the number had risen to seven.
The incident occurred amid a heavy rush of devotees who had gathered at the temple on the third Monday of the holy Shravan month. Large numbers of worshippers had arrived to offer prayers and holy water to Lord Shiva, resulting in significant crowd pressure around the temple premises.
Panic Amid Heavy Temple Rush
According to preliminary information, the incident took place at around 6:30 am when the crowd became difficult to control. Reports said panic spread after an electric pole reportedly fell, with rumours circulating about a possible live electrical wire. The situation escalated rapidly as devotees attempted to move away from the perceived danger.
Officials are still investigating the exact sequence of events. The Lakhisarai district administration has indicated that the unusually large gathering contributed to the situation, while reports also suggested that barricades gave way as the crowd surged.
Most of those gathered at the temple were devotees, with reports indicating that women made up a significant portion of those affected. Four of the deceased were identified in an initial report as Manmala Devi, Rinku Devi, Hemlata Devi and Lalita Devi.
Injured Taken to Hospital
Following the incident, emergency teams and local authorities moved into action to rescue those caught in the crowd and transport the injured to medical facilities. The injured are being treated at hospitals, while officials continue to assess the situation.
Authorities have launched an investigation to establish what triggered the crowd surge and whether any lapses in crowd management contributed to the tragedy.
The incident has once again highlighted the importance of crowd-control measures, emergency exits, barricading, medical facilities and coordinated security arrangements during major religious gatherings.
The death toll and circumstances surrounding the incident remain subject to official updates as the investigation continues.
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