At least 7 killed, several injured in stampede at temple in Bihar's Lakhisarai; ₹4 lakh ex-gratia announced

At least 7 were killed and several injured in stampede at temple in Bihar's Lakhisarai on Monday (Aug 17). The incident took place around 6.45 am as a large number of devotees gathered at the Shiva temple to offer prayers on the third Monday of the holy Shravan month. According to initial information, the falling wire sparked panic among devotees, following which a stampede broke out. Several people who sustained injuries have been taken to Lakhisarai Hospital for treatment. The Lakhisarai district administration has not yet officially confirmed the reported death toll.

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Lakhisarai DM Shailendra Kumar, who reached the location immediately after the incident said, "The crowd swelled in an unprecedented manner. Around 6.30-6.45 am, two trains came here that too added to the crowd. Arrangements were made as we had anticipated the crowd. 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."

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Bihar Chief minister Samrat Choudhary expressed grief over the stampede, describing the incident as heart wrenching. He announced ₹4 lakh ex-gratia for families of the deceased. The CM also said directives have been issued for immediate medical treatment of those injured in the stampede. “The incident at Ashok Dham in Lakhisarai is extremely tragic and heart-wrenching. The news of the deaths of devotees in the accident has left my heart deeply distressed. My deepest condolences go out to the bereaved families. Necessary instructions have been issued to the administration for the proper and expeditious treatment of the injured. May God grant peace to the departed souls and a swift recovery to the injured," he wrote on X. “