Lakhisarai: At least six people were killed and several others injured in a stampede at the Ashok Dham temple in Bihar’s Lakhisarai district on Monday morning, officials said. The incident occurred amid a heavy rush of devotees who had gathered to offer water to Lord Shiva on a Shravan Monday.
Lakhisarai Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Shivam Kumar confirmed the deaths and said police and district administration officials reached the spot immediately, with rescue and relief operations underway. The injured were shifted to local medical facilities for treatment.
While initial reports pointed to an unprecedented surge in the crowd, some accounts suggested panic may have been triggered after an electric pole fell near the temple, leading to fears of electrocution and a rush to escape. Officials said barricades reportedly gave way under the pressure, causing people to fall over one another.
Authorities said the exact cause was still being verified and a probe was ongoing.
The incident took place on one of the Mondays in the holy month of Shravan, which typically draws large crowds to Shiva temples across Bihar.