At least 7 killed in stampede at Bihar's Ashokdham Temple, CM announces ₹4 lakh ex-gratia for kin of victims

At least seven people were killed and several others injured in a stampede-like incident at Ashokdham Temple in Bihar's Lakhisarai on Monday, police told news agency ANI.

Lakhisarai SDPO Shivam Kumar confirmed the deaths and said several people were injured in the incident. Lakhisarai DM Shailendra Kumar told ANI that the crowd at Ashok Dham Temple swelled “in an unprecedented manner”. Two trains arrived around 6:30-6:45 am which added to the rush.

What caused the stampede?

“Seven casualties have been reported. It is being said that an electric pole fell there and people were electrocuted, which led to a stampede-like situation. We can tell you the exact reason only after verifying everything,” Kumar told ANI.

He said arrangements had been made in anticipation of the large gathering, but barricading on one side eventually broke under the pressure of the crowd, causing people to fall on one another.

“We then came to know that barricading broke on one side due to the crowd and people fell on each other. We rushed 10-15 people here immediately,” Kumar said.

Ashokdham, also known as Indradamneshwar Mahadev Temple, is a prominent Lord Shiva shrine in Bihar’s Lakhisarai district. The temple complex has the main Indradamneshwar Mahadev shrine at its centre, along with temples dedicated to Goddess Parvati, Nandi and Goddess Durga. The temple is particularly crowded during Sawan and Shivratri, when large numbers of devotees visit to offer prayers to Lord Shiva.