Stampede at Bihar temple leaves 8 dead, several injured; CM announces Rs 6 lakh ex-gratia for kin of deceased

A tragic stampede at the Sheetla Mata Temple in Bihar’s Nalanda district has claimed the lives of eight women and left more than a dozen people injured, officials said.

The incident occurred on Tuesday, a day when large numbers of devotees gather at the temple for worship. Being the final Tuesday of the Chaitra month, the turnout was significantly higher than usual. Suddenly, a stampede broke out, triggering panic among devotees.

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Eyewitnesses said people began running in different directions, leading to chaos inside the temple complex. Several women were trapped in the crowd and were crushed to death. More than a dozen injured individuals were rushed to nearby hospitals, where they are receiving treatment.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed deep grief over the incident and extended condolences to the victims’ families, while also confirming financial assistance. The families of those who lost their lives will each receive compensation of Rs 6 lakh.

Following the incident, police and administrative officials took control of the situation, and security was increased at hospitals treating the injured.

Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary described the incident as deeply painful and extended his condolences to the affected families. He stated that the government is providing all possible assistance and has ensured proper medical care for the injured. He also prayed for peace for the deceased and a speedy recovery for those hurt.

Expressing grief over the tragic incident, Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav blamed local authorities for failing to manage the crowd of devotees.

“I pray to God for peace to the departed souls and for the speedy recovery of the injured. My deepest condolences are with the grieving families,” he said.

“I urge the state government and district administration to ensure proper treatment for the injured, provide immediate assistance to the families of the deceased, and conduct a high-level investigation into the incident. Strict action should be taken against those responsible so that such painful incidents do not recur in the future,” he added.

State BJP President Sanjay Sarawagi also expressed sorrow, calling the incident unfortunate and heartbreaking.