{
  "id": 1481997,
  "title": "Hotel blaze, stampede kill 15 Hindu devotees in India",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/hotel-blaze-stampede-kill-15-hindu-devotees-in-india",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-17T12:52:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/world/20260817/hotel-blaze-stampede-kill-15-hindu-devotees-in-india"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Patna, India witnessed a tragic incident on Monday where at least 15 people lost their lives in two separate events during the holy month of Shravan, dedicated to Hindu deity Shiva. In West Bengal's Tarapith, a hotel fire claimed the lives of eight worshippers, while a stampede at a Shiva temple in Bihar's Lakhisarai district killed seven others and injured 19.\n\nThe hotel blaze occurred as devotees visited Tarapith to offer prayers on the last Monday of Shravan, a sacred time for Shiva devotees. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari expressed deep sorrow for the families who lost loved ones in the tragedy. However, the origin of the fire remains unknown.\n\nIn Bihar, the stampede at the Ashok Dham temple in Lakhisarai district was triggered by rumors that an electric pole had fallen on devotees inside the temple. District Magistrate Shailendra Kumar informed AFP of the incident. Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary conveyed his condolences in the aftermath of the unfortunate event.",
  "summary": "PATNA, India — At least 15 people were killed on Monday in two separate incidents in eastern India while paying homage to Hindu deity Shiva during the holy month of Shravan, officials said. A fire at a hotel in Tarapith in West Bengal state killed eight people, while seven others were killed in a stampede at a Shiva temple in neighbouring Bihar. The victims of the hotel blaze had travelled to…",
  "key_points": [
    "At least 15 Hindu devotees died in two incidents during Shravan month.",
    "Hotel fire in Tarapith, West Bengal killed eight worshippers.",
    "Stampede at Lakhisarai temple in Bihar killed seven others."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Hotel blaze, stampede kill 15 Hindu devotees in India",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/hotel-blaze-stampede-kill-15-hindu-devotees-in-india-1483750",
        "published": "2026-08-17T13:02:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}