Jehanabad: Seven people died and 16 others were injured in a tragic crowd crush at Baba Siddheshwar Nath Temple in Bihar’s Jehanabad district, according to an official statement on Monday.
District Magistrate Alankrita Pandey informed PTI that the incident occurred around 11:30 pm on Sunday at the temple located in the Barabar Pahadi area.
Most of the victims were pilgrims known as kanwariyas. Security personnel promptly responded to the situation, bringing it under control. The injured were swiftly transported to nearby medical facilities in Mukundapur and surrounding areas, where ten of them received first aid and seven remain hospitalized.
Authorities, including senior officials from the district administration and police, are stationed at the temple due to the high influx of pilgrims during the ongoing Kanwar Yatra, a Hindu pilgrimage where devotees carry water from the Ganges and other sacred sources to temples to pour over Shiva lingams.
Pandey noted that initial reports suggest the stampede may have been triggered by a dispute among kanwariyas, possibly involving an argument with flower sellers outside the temple premises. The exact cause is still under investigation, and an inquiry has been initiated to ascertain the circumstances leading to the tragic incident.
The district administration has announced financial assistance of Rs 20,000 each to the families of the deceased for their last rites, with additional compensation to follow according to established norms.
