At least eight women were killed and several others were injured on Tuesday during a religious gathering at the Sheetla Temple in Indian state of Bihar’s Nalanda district, reported Indian media.
The tragedy occurred when a large number of devotees gathered at the temple for worship, leading to severe overcrowding and a stampede, during which several people were crushed.
Upon receiving information about the incident, police officials, along with local villagers, rushed to the site and launched relief and rescue operations. Visuals from the scene showed scores of devotees gathered inside the temple premises.
The Bihar government has directed the Chief Secretary to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and issued instructions to ensure proper medical care for the injured, and officials have also been tasked with restoring normalcy at the temple as quickly as possible.
The Patna Commissioner has been sent to Bihar Sharif to oversee the situation.
Last year, nine devotees, mostly women and children, lost their lives and 13 others were injured in a stampede at Andhra Pradesh’s Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Srikakulam district. The tragedy struck during Ekadashi, an auspicious day for Hindus, when an overwhelming crowd had gathered at the temple.
Disturbing scenes from the temple showed a surge of devotees turning faith into frenzy, as the crowd spiralled into chaos and cries for help pierced the air while people stumbled and fell.
It is learnt that more than half a dozen injured devotees were rushed to the Model Hospital in Bihar Sharif for treatment.
Mamata Devi, a devotee, said "It is always crowded here on Tuesday. People come for Sheetla Mata's darshan. We too have come from Patna for darshan. But a stampede broke out, and people died. It happened due to mismanagement. An ambulance has reached here. It is so crowded here. Administration is not here."
Another devotee Reena Rai said "We came to know that a few people have fallen unconscious and a few others are injured. We also heard of a few deaths. The stampede occurred because nobody wanted to be in the queue and everybody wanted to have the darshan before everyone else. This was the last Tuesday of Chaitra. It is all due to mismanagement."
Lalit Kumar, a local, said "It is Mahavir Jayanti and Tuesday today, so there was a huge crowd there. The barricades broke, and suddenly a stampede occurred. People are saying that people were trampled on and deaths occurred. People are also saying that there was no police there."