Bihar: 7 dead, 9 injured in stampede at Jehanabad temple
A stampede at the Baba Siddhnath Temple in Makhdumpur, Jehanabad district, Bihar, claimed seven lives and left nine others injured on Monday. The temple, also known as the Shiva Temple and originally named Siddheshwar Nath Temple, is situated atop one of the highest peaks in the Barabar Hills range. According to reports, the stampede was triggered by a scuffle involving a flower seller.
Eyewitness account
An eyewitness, Manoj, recounted the incident, stating that many people were trapped during the brawl, the Hindustan Times reported. "Had I been stuck there for a minute or two more, I would have died," he said. He also claimed that the police were stationed along the route rather than at the spot where the incident occurred.
What officials said
Jehanabad District Magistrate Alankrita Pandey confirmed the death toll and number of injuries. "We are monitoring everything and now the situation is under control," she told news agency ANI. She also said that she, along with the Superintendent of Police (SP), visited the site to assess the situation on the ground.
Government's response
Divakar Kumar Vishwakarma, Station House Officer (SHO) Jehanabad, said, "DM and SP visited the spot, and they are taking stock of the situation...We are meeting and inquiring about the family members [of the dead and injured]...We are trying to identify the people...after this, we will send the bodies for post-mortem."
Crowd due to Sawan
The incident took place on the fourth Monday of the holy Sawan month, a period when the temple witnesses a significant influx of devotees. This comes on the heels of a similar incident just weeks ago at Uttar Pradesh's Hathras, where over 120 people lost their lives in a stampede during a religious gathering.
