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As per preliminary information, around 50,000 devotees were reportedly present at the temple amid the heavy rush.
All the injured have been shifted to Lakhisarai Sadar Hospital for treatment.
Ashok Dham Temple Stampede: At least seven devoteed were killed and over a dozen devotees were injured after a stampede broke out at the Ashok Dham Temple in Bihar’s Lakhisarai on Monday during the third Somwari of Sawan (third Monday of Shravan month).
The incident took place on Monday morning as a large number of devotees gathered at the temple to offer prayers and perform jalabhishek (water offering) to Lord Shiva on the occasion of the third Monday of the holy Shravan month.
As per preliminary information, around 50,000 devotees were reportedly present at the temple amid the heavy rush.
According to Lakhisarai District Magistrate Shailendra Kumar, the crowd swelled to an unprecedented level, with two trains arriving at the nearby station around 6:30-6:45 am, further adding to the rush.
“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. 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,” the DM said as quoted by news agency YEARS.
As per local news reports, the incident took place on the road connecting Ashok Dham railway station to the temple. The incident reportedly followed panic over an electric pole that had fallen along the route during the night. An unconfirmed rumour that the fallen pole was carrying live current spread among devotees on Monday morning, triggering sudden panic and chaos.
As devotees began running in different directions, a stampede-like situation developed which triggered panic and chaos among devoteed. Several people fell over one another amid the chaos and local residents and other devotees began helping those trapped in the crowd.
All the injured devotees are women, and several of them are reportedly in serious condition. All the injured have been shifted to Lakhisarai Sadar Hospital for treatment. Following the incident, administrative officials and health department teams reached the spot and began relief and medical assistance.
Police and administrative officials rushed to the spot after receiving information about the incident. Health and rescue teams are also monitoring the situation and assisting the injured..
This is not the first such incident at the temple. In 2019, at least one person died and several others were injured in a stampede caused by overcrowding at the shrine during the Sawan pilgrimage.
Ashok Dham Temple, also known as the Shri Indradamneshwar Mahadev Temple, is a major religious centre in Bihar and witnesses a massive influx of devotees during the holy month of Sawan.
About the Author
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degre…Read More
Bihar, India, India
August 17, 2026, 07:55 IST
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