At least six people were killed and several others injured in a stampede at the Ashok Dham temple in Bihar state, eastern India, according to local media reports. The incident occurred on an auspicious Monday of the holy month of Shravan, as a massive crowd of devotees gathered to offer water to Lord Shiva.

Shivam Kumar, a senior police officer, told ANI news agency that an electric pole fell at the site, electrocuting people and triggering the stampede. "We can tell you the exact reason only after verifying everything," he added, indicating that an investigation is underway.

Lakhisarai District Magistrate Shailendra Kumar told ANI that a barricade broke due to the rush, causing people to fall on each other. "The crowd swelled in an unprecedented manner. Around 6:30-6:45 a.m., two trains arrived, adding to the crowd. Arrangements were made as we had anticipated the crowd, but it exceeded expectations," he said.

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed deep distress over the incident and ordered swift treatment for the injured. "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," he wrote in a post on X in Hindi.

This tragedy follows a similar incident in March, when nine people, mostly women, were killed in a stampede at another temple in Bihar's Nalanda district. The recurring incidents highlight ongoing challenges in crowd management at religious sites during peak pilgrimage seasons in India.

Source: www.dw.com