Lakhisarai: At least seven women were killed and more than 12 people were injured after a stampede broke out near Ashokdham railway station in Bihar’s Lakhisarai district on Monday. Officials indicated that the death toll could rise.
The incident occurred on the route from Ashokdham station to the temple, where thousands of devotees had gathered in a queue for darshan on the third Monday of Sawan.
According to preliminary information, an electricity pole reportedly fell near the route during the night. Amid the large gathering, reports of electricity current spreading from the pole triggered panic among devotees waiting in the queue.
As people began running for safety, the barricading reportedly broke, causing several devotees to fall over one another. The injured were taken to Lakhisarai Sadar Hospital by ambulances.
A devotee who was present at the site said there was heavy crowding when news of the fallen electricity pole and electric shock spread among those waiting for darshan. The panic led people to run, following which the barricading broke and several people fell on top of one another.
Lakhisarai SDPO Shivam Kumar said seven deaths had been reported. He said a fallen electricity pole and people coming into contact with electricity appeared to have triggered a stampede-like situation, but added that the exact cause would be established after a detailed investigation.
Lakhisarai District Magistrate said he had been at the site since around 3:30 pm and that the crowd increased suddenly at around 6:30 pm. He said he was later informed that the barricading on the side of the field had broken, resulting in people falling over one another.
Bihar sees another major temple stampede in five months
The Lakhisarai incident comes around five months after another major stampede at a temple in Bihar.
On March 31, more than 25,000 devotees had gathered at the Magadha Sheetla Temple in Nalanda on the occasion of the last Tuesday of Chaitra. A stampede broke out following a rush among devotees seeking darshan. Nine people, including eight women, were killed in that incident.
Authorities are expected to conduct a detailed investigation into the Lakhisarai stampede to determine the sequence of events and establish the exact cause of the deaths and injuries.
