India
oi-Madhuri Adnal
Seven people died in a stampede-like incident at Ashokdham Temple in Bihar’s Lakhisarai on Monday during the heavy rush of devotees visiting the shrine in the holy month of Sawan. The injured persons have been shifted to Sadar Hospital, with some reportedly in serious condition. All those injured so far are said to be women.
The overcrowding occurred amid a heavy rush of devotees visiting the temple on Shravan Somvar, the holy Mondays of the Shravan (Sawan) month dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Seven people died and several were injured in a stampede-like incident at Bihar’s Lakhisarai Ashokdham Temple on Monday, reportedly caused by an electric pole falling and leading to electrocution.
Speaking to reporters, 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 DM Shailendra Kumar told ANI that the crowd at Ashok Dham Temple swelled “in an unprecedented manner”. Two trains arrived around 6:30-6:45 am which added to the rush.”
He said arrangements had been made in anticipation of the large gathering, but barricading on one side eventually broke under the pressure of the crowd, causing people to fall on one another.
“We then came to know that barricading broke on one side due to the crowd and people fell on each other. We rushed 10-15 people here immediately,” Kumar said.
Ashok Dham is one of Bihar’s prominent Shiva shrines and is dedicated to Lord Indradamaneshwar Mahadev. The temple, often referred to as ‘Bihar’s Second Baba Dham’, which attracts large crowds during Sawan and Maha Shivaratri, when devotees visit to offer Jalabhishek to Lord Shiva.
The shrine is also known for its Swayambhu Shiva Lingam, which, according to local tradition, was discovered in 1977. With hundreds of thousands of devotees visiting the temple during the Sawan season, crowd management becomes a major challenge for the authorities.
