7 killed, 19 injured in stampede at temple in India's Bihar
A stampede at a Hindu temple in India’s eastern Bihar state killed at least seven people and injured 19 others on Monday, officials said. Deadly stampedes are a common occurrence at big Indian gatherings and religious festivals, mainly due to poor crowd management. The incident occurred at the Ashok Dham temple in Bihar state’s Lakhisarai district, where a massive crowd had gathered to pay homage…
A deadly stampede at a Hindu temple in India's Bihar state claimed at least seven lives and left 19 others injured on Monday, officials revealed. The catastrophe occurred at the Ashok Dham temple in Lakhisarai district, where a large gathering of devotees had assembled to pay their respects to the Hindu deity Shiva. District magistrate Shailendra Kumar informed AFP that the incident was sparked by rumors that an electric pole had fallen on the congregants within the temple grounds. "The situation is currently under control," Kumar assured.
Bihar's Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed his sorrow over the tragedy, announcing financial assistance of 400,000 rupees ($4,180) to each victim's family. The incident highlights the recurring issue of stampedes at Indian gatherings and religious events, often caused by inadequate crowd control measures. Last year, similar fatal crushes occurred in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, resulting in the deaths of nine and 36 people respectively.
In 2024, the deadliest crowd disaster in recent years took place in Uttar Pradesh, resulting in the loss of 120 lives during a religious sermon attended by thousands.
Written by urgent.news from Dawn's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
