Top Stories· August 17, 2026 at 08:35 a.m.
Seven Killed, Over a Dozen Injured in Stampede at Hindu Temple in India
Key takeaways
- At least seven people died in a stampede at Ashok Dham temple
- Over a dozen injured during the incident
- Compensation of 400,000 rupees announced for each family of the deceased
At least seven people have perished, and over a dozen were injured in a stampede at the Ashok Dham temple in Lakhisarai district, Bihar, India. The incident occurred during the holy month of Shravan on Monday as thousands gathered to offer prayers to Hindu deity Shiva. District magistrate Shailendra Kumar reported panic ensued due to rumors about an electricity pole falling inside the temple grounds, although other reports suggest fears of electrocution contributed to the chaos. The arrival of two trains in quick succession is believed to have increased the number of worshippers, leading to a collapsed section of barricading and subsequent escape attempts. Currently, 19 are reported injured. Local media states many victims were women; four women aged between 44 and 55 were among those killed. Bihar's Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed sympathy for the families and announced compensation of 400,000 rupees ($4,180) per family. State minister Vijay Kumar Sinha pledged to investigate the circumstances surrounding the disaster. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also offered condolences and assured assistance to those affected. Deadly crowd crushes have been recurrent at large religious gatherings in India due to insufficient crowd-control measures.
