New Delhi: At least eight devotees lost their lives and several others were injured after a stampede broke out at the Sheetla Mata Mandir on Tuesday morning. The tragic incident occurred in Maghra village of Nalanda district as a large number of worshippers gathered at the temple to offer prayers.
Authorities said the temple witnessed an unusually heavy rush because it was the last Tuesday of the Chaitra month, a day considered significant by many devotees. As the crowd continued to swell inside the temple complex, sudden movement among worshippers reportedly led to panic and chaos, triggering the stampede.
Several people sustained injuries during the incident and were quickly rushed to a hospital in Bihar Sharif for medical treatment. Local residents and police personnel reached the site soon after the incident and began rescue and relief operations to assist the injured and control the situation.
Visuals from the temple premises showed large crowds surrounding the complex as authorities worked to disperse the gathering and ensure safety. Officials are currently assessing the circumstances that led to the sudden surge in crowd movement.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed grief over the loss of lives and announced financial assistance for the families of the victims. According to an official statement, the next of kin of each deceased devotee will receive compensation amounting to six lakh rupees. The aid will include four lakh rupees from the Disaster Management Department and two lakh rupees from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
The government stated that the assistance is intended to support the affected families while authorities review the situation and investigate the factors that led to the tragedy.
Similar incidents have occurred during large religious gatherings in the past. In one such case last year, a stampede at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple during the observance of Ekadashi resulted in nine deaths and several injuries after overcrowding caused panic among devotees.
Officials continue to urge strict crowd management and safety measures during major religious events to prevent such tragedies.
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