2 weeks ago
Bihar Temple Stampede Kills 7 Women After Rumor Sparks Panic
Many people went to a temple in India to pray.
About 50,000 people were there.
Someone started a scary rumor about an electric wire.
People got scared and started pushing each other.
This is called a stampede.
Sadly, at least 7 women died and many more were hurt.
The wire was not dangerous—it was just a cable.
The Prime Minister and the Chief Minister said the government will give money to help the families.
This has happened before at other temples in India.
It is important to stay calm and not believe rumors.
At least 7 women devotees died and 25 people were injured in a stampede near Ashok Dham Temple in Bihar's Lakhisarai district on August 17.
The stampede occurred amid a heavy rush of about 50,000 devotees at Ashok Dham Halt railway station after a rumor that electric current was spreading from a fallen pole.
Authorities said the fallen object was actually a cable wire, not a live electric wire.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Rs 2 lakh ex gratia from PMNRF for families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured, while Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary announced Rs 4 lakh per deceased.
The article notes similar rumor-triggered stampedes across India, including at Mansa Devi, Gandhi Maidan, Ratangarh Mata, Chamunda Devi, and Naina Devi temples.
- Who
- Devotees gathered at Ashok Dham Temple; Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary announced relief payments.
- What
- A stampede triggered by a rumor about a fallen electric wire killed at least 7 women and injured 25 people.
- Where
- Ashok Dham Temple (Shri Indradamneshwar Mahadev Mandir), Lakhisarai district, Bihar, India.
- When
- August 17, the third Monday of the Shravan month.
- Why
- A rumor that electric current was spreading from a fallen pole caused panic; the wire was actually a cable wire.
Key facts
- Location
- Ashok Dham Temple, Lakhisarai district, Bihar, India
- Date
- August 17 (third Monday of Shravan month)
- Deaths
- At least 7, all women
- Injured
- 25 per officials; more than a dozen per preliminary accounts
- Crowd size
- At least 50,000 devotees
- Cause
- Rumor of electric current from a fallen pole; actually a cable wire
- PM relief
- Rs 2 lakh per deceased, Rs 50,000 per injured (PMNRF)
- CM relief
- Rs 4 lakh ex gratia per deceased (Samrat Choudhary)
Quotes
Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited Managing Director Anil Kumar
Managing Director of UPCL
“"We found through photos and videos that someone spread the rumour of an electric wire breaking; while looking at the injured or the dead, we did not get any such indication. We will investigate who spread the rumour that caused the stampede, and a magisterial inquiry will be set up to investigate cameras and other means. The death of 6 people has been confirmed."”
opindia.com
“"During the inspection conducted by our personnel at the temple premises, the leakage of electric current was found to be zero. Also, the Low‑Tension lines carrying power there are completely insulated with no bare conductors in use. We also found no incident of anyone suffering an electric shock or getting electrocuted."”
opindia.com
Sources
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