7 women die in Bihar temple stampede; Shah, CM express grief
Seven women devotees died and 25 people were injured in a stampede near the Ashok Dham temple in Bihar's Lakhisarai district on Monday, officials said.
The incident occurred due to a heavy rush of devotees at Ashok Dham Halt railway station, which is a short walk from the temple, and a rumour that electric current was spreading from a fallen pole.
While Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary announced Rs 4 lakh ex gratia to the next of kin of each deceased, the district administration ordered an investigation into the incident.
The pilgrims had gathered there to offer water to Lord Shiva at the temple. Mondays during Shravan, a month considered sacred to Lord Shiva, are regarded as particularly auspicious by his devotees.
The deceased have been identified as Manmala Devi, Rinku Devi, Hemlata Devi, Lalita Devi, Savita Devi, Saroj Devi and Savitri Devi.
Talking to PTI, Lakhisarai District Magistrate Shailendra Kumar said, "At least seven women devotees died, and 25 others were injured in the stampede near Ashok Dham halt railway station in Lakhisarai on Monday morning."
The incident occurred at 6.30 am when a section of the barricades gave way under the pressure of the crowd, causing people to fall over one another, the DM said.
He added that the panic and confusion stemmed from rumours that an electric pole had fallen and that electric current was spreading.
All injured were taken to the nearest government hospital, Kumar said.
The chief minister expressed grief over the deaths of devotees in the stampede and announced Rs 4 lakh ex gratia to the kin of each deceased.
"The incident at Ashok Dham in Lakhisarai is tragic and heartbreaking. It has deeply saddened me. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Necessary instructions have been issued to the administration to ensure proper and prompt medical care for the injured.
"May God grant peace to the departed souls and a speedy recovery to those who have been injured," he wrote on X.
Meanwhile, a three-member inquiry team has been constituted by the district administration to investigate the causes and circumstances of the incident.
