Overcrowding during weekly religious gathering at Sheetla Mata temple triggers deadly chaos, with survivors alleging poor crowd control and delayed administrative response
At least eight women have been killed and several others injured in a stampede that broke out during a religious gathering at Maa Sheetla Mandir in Bihar’s Nalanda district on Tuesday morning.
The incident reportedly occurred at the temple located in Maghra village, where a large number of devotees had assembled for weekly rituals, leading to severe overcrowding within the premises. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as people rushed to escape the crush, resulting in several being trampled.
Bihar Sharif Assistant Superintendent of Police Noorul Haque reportedly confirmed the fatalities, stating that police and district administration teams reached the site soon after the incident and initiated rescue operations. The exact cause of the stampede is yet to be officially determined, though authorities acknowledged an unusually heavy turnout of devotees.
The gathering coincided with a weekly fair at the temple, which is known to attract significant crowds, especially on Tuesdays considered auspicious for worship of Sheetla Mata. However, preliminary accounts from those present have pointed to alleged gaps in crowd management and inadequate deployment of security personnel.
Some devotees claimed that the situation spiralled out of control due to mismanagement. Mamata Devi, who had travelled from Patna, said the temple is typically crowded on Tuesdays but the scale of the rush was overwhelming this time. Another devotee recounted how members of her group got separated in the chaos as people struggled to find space and safety.
Emergency services, including ambulances, were rushed to the spot, and the injured were shifted to nearby medical facilities. Media reports indicate that the death toll could rise as some of the injured remain in critical condition.
The tragedy has once again raised concerns over crowd control measures at religious gatherings in the state, particularly at sites that regularly witness large footfall during local fairs and rituals.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed pain over the loss of lives and extending condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in the tragic incident. He has also announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of each deceased individual and ₹50,000 to those who sustained injuries.
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary also expressed condolences to the families of the victims and assured that the state government would extend all possible assistance to those affected.
Authorities are expected to conduct a detailed inquiry into the circumstances leading to the stampede and assess whether lapses in planning or execution contributed to the loss of lives.
