Stampede at Nalanda temple in Bihar kills 8 women

Patna: A tragic stampede at the Sheetla Mata Mandir in Nalanda, Bihar, has claimed eight lives, with eight others injured, according to district authorities. The incident occurred during a large religious gathering, where overcrowding led to chaos inside the temple premises.

Officials said a massive crowd had gathered at the temple on the occasion, leading to severe congestion. As devotees entered the premises after taking a holy dip, several women reportedly collapsed due to dehydration and suffocation, triggering panic and a stampede-like situation.

Casualties and medical response

Nalanda District Magistrate Kundan Kumar confirmed that eight people lost their lives in the incident. Eight injured individuals were rushed to nearby hospitals, where they are currently reported to be stable. Authorities have begun postmortem procedures, and most of the deceased have been identified.

The state administration has announced financial assistance of ₹6 lakh for the families of the deceased. This includes ₹4 lakh from the Disaster Relief Fund and ₹2 lakh from the Chief Minister’s relief fund.

Police officials stated that there was no prior information about such a large crowd gathering at the temple. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the incident. Forensic teams have reached the site, and CCTV footage is being analysed to determine the sequence of events and identify any lapses.

Government response

State authorities have expressed condolences and assured full support for the injured. A detailed probe has been ordered to investigate the causes of the stampede and fix responsibility for any negligence.