Lakhisarai:
At the least seven devotees had been killed and a number of other others injured in a stampede-like incident exterior the Ashok Dham Temple in Bihar’s Lakhisarai district on Monday, with officers saying panic might have been triggered by rumours {that a} reside electrical wire had fallen into the gang after an electrical pole collapsed.
The tragedy unfolded amid a heavy rush of worshippers who had gathered on the temple on the third Monday of the month of Sawan.
#BREAKING | 6 Killed, many injured in stampede at temple in Bihar’s Lakhisarai https://t.co/Ih8KUA1IYU
NDTV’s @journal_raman joins @ParmeshwarBawa, with extra particulars pic.twitter.com/LVESy7E9SV
— NDTV (@ndtv) August 17, 2026
Following the incident, officers and police groups reached the spot and commenced rescue efforts, whereas the injured had been taken to close by hospitals for medical care.
Calling the incident extraordinarily tragic, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary mentioned the administration had been directed to make sure correct and immediate remedy for the injured.
लखीसराय के अशोकधाम की घटना अत्यंत दुःखद एवं हृदयविदारक है।
हादसे में श्रद्धालुओं की मृत्यु की खबर से मन व्यथित है। शोक संतप्त परिवारों के प्रति मेरी गहरी संवेदनाएं हैं।
घायलों के समुचित एवं त्वरित इलाज के लिए प्रशासन को आवश्यक निर्देश दिए गए हैं। ईश्वर दिवंगत आत्माओं को शांति…
— Samrat Choudhary (@samrat4bjp) August 17, 2026
Whereas talking with reporters, Lakhisarai District Justice of the Peace Shailendra Kumar mentioned that an unprecedented surge of devotees, intensified by the arrival of two trains round 6.30-6.45 am, led to a barricade collapse exterior the temple.
“The group swelled in an unprecedented method. Round 6.30-6.45 am, two trains got here right here that too added to the gang. Preparations had been made as we had anticipated the gang. We then got here to know that barricading broke on one facet as a result of crowd and other people fell on one another,” Kumar mentioned.
He added, “Abruptly, an electrical pole fell there. The pole was situated on the suitable facet of the boys’s queue. When the pole collapsed, a hearsay unfold {that a} reside wire had fallen on folks, nevertheless it was a cable wire. This led to stress on the ladies’s queue on the left facet. So, girls fell on high of one another. Police administration had been marching there since 3 am. This occurred impulsively inside a span of two minutes.”
Sub-Divisional Police Officer Shivam Kumar informed information company ANI that preliminary stories counsel an electrical pole fell on the website, inflicting electrocution and triggering a stampede-like scenario.
He mentioned the precise explanation for the incident can be ascertained solely after an intensive verification of the info.
He mentioned, “Seven casualties have been reported. It’s being mentioned that an electrical pole fell there and other people had been electrocuted, which led to a stampede-like scenario. We are able to let you know the precise purpose solely after verifying every little thing.”
The Ashok Dham Temple is also referred to as the Shri Indradamaneshwar Mahadev Temple. It homes a big Shivalinga. The temple attracts a lot of devotees, notably throughout the holy month of Sawan.
