Bihar temple stampede kills 7 after electric wire snaps
Panic over loose wire triggered a fatal crush at Ashok Dham Temple.
A stampede at Ashok Dham Temple in Lakhisarai district, Bihar, left seven dead and more than a dozen injured early Monday morning. The incident occurred as thousands of devotees gathered on the third Monday of Shravan, one of the holiest months in the Hindu calendar, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Preliminary reports suggest an electric wire snapped outside the temple at around 6:30am, triggering panic among worshippers who rushed to avoid potential electrocution.
According to civil official Shailendra Kumar, the crush was exacerbated when a section of barricades collapsed under the weight of the surging crowd, causing people to fall over one another. The injured were taken to a government hospital for treatment. Kumar confirmed the situation is now under control and the exact cause of the stampede remains under investigation. The disaster highlights recurring safety challenges at large religious gatherings in India, where crowd management and infrastructure often struggle to keep pace with the massive numbers of devotees.
- 7 people died and over a dozen were injured in the stampede at Ashok Dham Temple in Bihar
- A snapped electric wire sparked panic, and collapsing barricades led to the fatal crush
- Thousands had gathered for Shravan prayers; officials say the cause is still under investigation
Why It Matters
Highlights ongoing crowd safety failures at major religious events, demanding better infrastructure and emergency planning.