{
  "id": 1483750,
  "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",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-17T13:02:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/world/20260817/hotel-blaze-stampede-kill-15-hindu-devotees-in-india"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "PATNA, India - At least 15 individuals lost their lives on Monday due to two separate incidents while paying respects to Hindu deity Shiva during the holy Shravan month, according to officials. A fire at a hotel in Tarapith, West Bengal, claimed eight lives, while a stampede at a Shiva temple in neighboring Bihar resulted in the deaths of seven others.\n\nThe victims of the hotel fire had journeyed to Tarapith to perform prayers on the last Monday of Shravan, a month dedicated to Shiva that draws a large number of devotees. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari of West Bengal expressed his heartfelt sorrow for the families who have lost their loved ones in the tragedy. The origin of the fire remains unknown at this time.\n\nIn Bihar, a stampede at the Ashok Dham temple in Lakhisarai district claimed the lives of seven pilgrims and left 19 others injured. The stampede erupted after rumors circulated that an electric pole had fallen onto worshippers inside the temple grounds, stated district magistrate Shailendra Kumar to AFP. Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary offered condolences for the victims.",
  "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": [],
  "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",
        "published": "2026-08-17T12:52:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}