Injured folks obtain therapy at a hospital following a stampede on the Ashok Dham temple in Lakhisarai, Bihar, on August 17, 2026
| Photograph Credit score: PTI
A minimum of seven devotees had been killed and a dozen others injured on Monday (August 17, 2026) in a stampede at Ashok Dham temple in Lakhisarai district, Bihar, on account of a heavy rush of devotees on the temple.
An eyewitness mentioned that two trains stuffed with devotees had reached Lakhisarai railway station, and the devotees, principally ladies, rushed to supply sacred water to Lord Shiva on the temple on the third auspicious Monday of the month of Shrawan. The push led to a stampede on the temple after a bamboo barricade broke and an electrical pole snapped on the website, they mentioned.
Additionally learn: A list of major stampedes in India
“The incident occurred at 6:40 within the morning right this moment on account of a heavy rush of devotees… the barricade broke down, which triggered a sudden stampede that led to the incident… district officers had been current on the website to regulate the scenario,” mentioned Lakhisarai District Justice of the Peace Shailendra Kumar, who took cost of the district in April 2026.
The white-domed Ashok Dham temple is seen from the practice and lies near Lakhisarai railway station.
The injured have been admitted to the Sadar (city) authorities hospital for medical help. Three of the severely injured individuals have been referred to Patna for higher medical help.
Munger Divisional Commissioner Prem Singh Meena and Deputy Inspector Basic of Police (DIG) Rakesh Kumar visited Sadar hospital in Munger the place injured individuals have been admitted for therapy. Mr. Meena whereas talking to media individuals mentioned an inquiry might be performed into the stampede and the actual causes of it is going to come out .
CM pronounces help
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed grief over the deaths of devotees within the stampede and introduced ₹4 lakh ex gratia to the kin of every deceased.
“The incident at Ashok Dham in Lakhisarai is tragic and heartbreaking. It has deeply saddened me. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved households. Mandatory directions have been issued to the administration to make sure correct and immediate medical take care of the injured. Could God grant peace to the departed souls and a speedy restoration to those that have been injured,” he wrote on X.
Chief of the Opposition within the Bihar Meeting, Tejashwi Yadav, expressed sorrow over the incident and accused the NDA Authorities within the State of “not making correct safety preparations for devotees and crowd management, which reveals their administrative misgovernance.”
Former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar too has expressed grief over the incident.
Chairman of Bihar State Board of Spiritual Belief, Ranbir Nandan, mentioned the board will launch a probe into the incident and a group will go to the place the temple quickly.
President condoles lack of lives
President Droupadi Murmu on Monday (August 17) expressed her deep sorrow over the lack of lives within the stampede and prolonged her heartfelt condolences to the grieving households.
“The information of the deaths of devotees within the stampede in Lakhisarai district of Bihar is extraordinarily painful. I specific my deepest condolences to the grief-stricken households. I pray for the swift restoration of those that have been injured,” Ms. Murmu mentioned in a publish on X in Hindi.
(With inputs from PTI)
Printed – August 17, 2026 08:41 am IST
