Seven people died in a stampede at a temple in Bihar, allegedly after volunteers lathi-charged the crowd.
The devotees had gathered at the temple for a consecration event held every year during the holy month of Shravan.
Arpit Pattnaik
Last night, seven devotees, including three women, died in a stampede at the Baba Sidheshwar Nath temple in Bihar's Jehanabad district. The incident occurred during a consecration event held annually during the holy month of Shravan. At least 35 others were injured in the stampede.
Eyewitnesses claimed that force, including the use of lathis by National Cadet Corps (NCC) volunteers, was used to control the crowd, leading to the stampede. However, authorities have denied any negligence on their part and stated that there was strict vigil and adequate arrangements in place, including NCC personnel, civil deputations, and medical teams.
According to reports, a dispute among kanwariyas led to a scuffle, which escalated and ultimately resulted in the stampede. The injured were being treated at local hospitals, while the bodies of the deceased were taken to the Jehanabad Post-mortem House.
Locals fear that the death count could rise, and the situation remains tense. The district administration has promised to provide more details after the post-mortem examination.
