Stampede at Bihar temple leaves seven dead, 35 injured | WATCH

In a heartbreaking incident, seven people, including three women, lost their lives, and 35 others sustained injuries during a stampede at the Siddheshwarnath Temple in Bihar's Jehanabad district on Monday morning. The tragic event unfolded at Vanavar Hill in the Makhdumpur block, where large crowds had gathered to offer prayers on the fourth Monday of the holy month of Sawan—a time when the temple typically sees a surge in devotees.

 

 

 

 

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Rush at temple leads to fatal stampede

As the temple's premises became overcrowded with worshippers, chaos ensued, leading to the deadly stampede. The injured were swiftly transported to hospitals in Makhdumpur and Jehanabad for treatment. This incident underscores the recurring dangers associated with mass gatherings at religious sites in India, particularly during significant religious occasions.

#WATCH | Bihar: Divakar Kumar Vishwakarma, SHO Jehanabad says, "DM and SP visited the spot and they are taking stock of the situation...A total of seven people have died...We are meeting and inquiring the family members (of the people dead and injured)...We are trying to identify… https://t.co/yw6e4wzRiY pic.twitter.com/lYzaoSzVPH

— ANI (@ANI) August 12, 2024

A grim reminder of past tragedies

This recent stampede at Siddheshwarnath Temple echoes the horror of similar incidents in the past. On July 2, a devastating stampede in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, claimed over 120 lives during a prayer meeting led by Baba Narayan Hari, also known as 'Bhole Baba.' The tragedy occurred despite the event receiving official permission from the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM). Overcrowding was identified as a key factor behind the disaster, according to Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh.

India has witnessed numerous stampedes at temples and religious gatherings over the years, with some of the most catastrophic incidents including the 2005 stampede at Maharashtra's Mandhardevi Temple, which claimed over 340 lives, and the 2008 tragedy at Rajasthan's Chamunda Devi Temple, where at least 250 people perished. Another tragic stampede in 2008 at the Naina Devi Temple in Himachal Pradesh resulted in the deaths of 162 devotees.