At least seven people lost their lives and 19 others were injured in a stampede that occurred at the Ashok Dham temple in Lakhisarai district, Bihar state, India, on Monday.
The incident unfolded as a large crowd had gathered to worship the Hindu deity Shiva. According to district magistrate Shailendra Kumar, panic spread after rumours circulated that an electric pole had collapsed inside the temple grounds, triggering the deadly crush.
"The situation is under control now," Kumar confirmed, adding that the injured were receiving hospital treatment.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary described the tragedy as "heart-wrenching" and announced a compensation payout of 400,000 rupees (approximately $4,180) to the families of the victims.
Stampedes during religious festivals and large gatherings are unfortunately common in India, often linked to inadequate crowd management. This latest disaster follows several similar incidents, including:
- A November 2025 stampede at a temple in Andhra Pradesh that killed nine people.
- A political rally stampede in Tamil Nadu in 2025 resulting in 36 deaths.
- A 2024 religious sermon in Uttar Pradesh where over 120 people died in a crowd crush.
