Seven people were killed and several others injured in a stampede-like incident at Ashokdham Temple in Bihar’s Lakhisarai district early on Monday, as a large crowd gathered to offer prayers on the third Monday of the holy Shravan month. The incident occurred near Ashok Dham Halt railway station, a short walk from the temple, around 6:30–6:45 am.
SDPO Shivam Kumar said, “Seven casualties have been reported. It is being said that an electric pole fell there and people were electrocuted, which led to a stampede-like situation. We can tell you the exact reason only after verifying everything.”
Lakhisarai District Magistrate Shailendra Kumar said, “The crowd swelled in an unprecedented manner. Around 6.30–6.45 am, two trains came here, which also added to the crowd. Arrangements were made as we had anticipated the crowd.” Explaining how the incident unfolded, the DM said the sheer pressure of the crowd caused one side of the barricading to give way. “We then came to know that the barricading broke on one side due to the crowd, and people fell on each other. We rushed 10–15 people here immediately,” he added.
According to official accounts, the tragedy was triggered by a sudden structural collapse coupled with a rapid spread of panic among the waiting crowd. An electric pole located near the queue of male devotees suddenly fell, and a rumour spread that there was an electric current, causing devotees to rush in panic. The incident happened suddenly within a span of around two minutes.
Five of the seven deceased have been identified as Manimala Devi, Tinku Devi, Hemlata Devi, Lalita Devi, and Sarita. Other reports named the deceased as Saroj, Man Devi (44), Lalita (55), Savitri Devi, Savita Devi (35), Rita Devi (50), and Rinku Devi. More than a dozen people were taken to a government hospital for treatment. The injured were subsequently shifted to Sadar Hospital and other nearby medical facilities for treatment.
Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each for the next of kin of those killed in the stampede-like incident at Ashokdham Temple in Lakhisarai. The Bihar government will also provide free treatment to the injured. 1114
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives in the stampede at Ashok Dham Temple in Bihar’s Lakhisarai and offered condolences to the bereaved families. “Pained by the loss of lives due to a stampede in Lakhisarai, Bihar. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. May the injured recover at the earliest. The local administration is assisting those affected,” PM Modi said.
President Droupadi Murmu, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also expressed grief over the deaths and offered condolences to the bereaved families.
The incident comes on the same day as a stampede-like situation at Ujjain’s Nagchandreshwar Temple in Madhya Pradesh, where several devotees were injured after a rumour about electric current in barricades triggered panic among devotees heading towards the temple.
In recent years, several stampede incidents have been reported at temples and religious gatherings across India, often triggered by overcrowding, structural failures, or rumours of danger. The Ashokdham Temple incident underscores the need for better crowd management, especially during major festivals like Shravan Somvar, when lakhs of devotees converge at Shiva temples.
For Lakhisarai’s Ashokdham Temple, the stampede is a tragic reminder that faith must be matched with foresight—where crowd control, clear communication and swift emergency response can prevent a moment of panic from turning into a permanent loss.
