A stampede at a Hindu temple in Bihar, eastern India, kills at least six people, with multiple reports putting the death toll at seven. The incident happens as thousands of devotees gather to pray near Ashok Dham Temple in Lakhisarai district during the third Monday of Shravan, a major month in the Hindu calendar. Officials say an investigation is underway and that injured people are being treated.
Several outlets report that panic is sparked after electrical-related events inside the temple area—such as a snapped electric wire or rumours that an electric pole has fallen on devotees—begin to spread among worshippers. These details vary in phrasing but are described in broadly similar terms. Reported injuries also differ slightly by outlet: some mention more than a dozen people hurt, while others specify 19 injured. Commentary from one source also adds that Bihar’s chief minister announces compensation for victims, while noting that deadly stampedes have occurred at large gatherings in India in recent years.
