Lakhisarai (Bihar) :- A surge of faith turned into mourning on the third Monday of the holy month of “Sawan” at the historic Ashokdham temple in Lakhisarai, Bihar. A stampede broke out around 6:40 AM amidst the massive crowd that had gathered to seek blessings from Lord Shiva. At least seven devotees lost their lives, and 12 others were injured in this tragic incident. Reports indicate that the majority of the deceased were women. Following the incident, the temple premises were filled with screams and cries as panic gripped the devotees.
According to reports, an estimated 50,000 devotees were expected to visit the temple on Monday. Long queues of worshippers had formed as early as the previous night, stretching for several kilometers. As the crowd swelled in the morning, pushing and shoving ensued when some devotees attempted to move ahead in the queue. Amidst this, the pressure of the crowd caused the barricades to collapse, and many people in the queue fell.
Upon receiving information of the incident, police and administrative teams rushed to the scene. Trapped individuals were rescued, and the injured were taken to Lakhisarai Sadar Hospital. Officials stated that some devotees also fell ill due to the overcrowding and humidity and received medical treatment. The situation was subsequently brought under control.
Following the incident, Bihar’s Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed grief and announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹4 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased. Extending condolences to the affected families, the government assured that proper medical treatment would be provided to the injured. The Ashokdham incident has once again raised serious questions regarding crowd control, safe queue management, and emergency evacuation arrangements during large religious gatherings.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed deep grief over the incident. Sharing PM Modi’s message on its official social media handle, the Prime Minister’s Office (‘PMO India’) stated:
“Deeply saddened by the loss of lives in the stampede in Lakhisarai, Bihar. My condolences are with the affected and bereaved families during this difficult time. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. The local administration is engaged in providing all possible assistance to those affected.”
