A tragic stampede at the Siddheshwar Nath Temple in Jahnabad, Bihar, has resulted in the deaths of seven people and injuries to about twelve others. The incident occurred during a ritual bathing ceremony for Lord Shiva on the fourth Monday of the Shravan month.
Details of the Incident
The stampede happened as thousands of devotees gathered for the ritual. The chaos led to the deaths of seven devotees, including five women. Many others sustained injuries, with some in critical condition. The incident took place at the Siddheshwar Nath Temple in Makhdum Pur.
Response and Investigation
Upon receiving the information, the police and disaster relief teams arrived at the scene. They took control of the bodies and sent them for post-mortem examination. The injured were taken to various hospitals for treatment.
According to the police, devotees had gathered for the ritual bathing of Lord Shiva on the fourth Monday of Shravan. The exact cause of the stampede is still unclear, and an investigation is underway. Jahnabad’s SHOs, including Divakar Vishwakarma, mentioned that both the SP and DM inspected the site. They confirmed that an investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing.
Witness Accounts
Anand Kumar, also known as Vishal, an injured devotee, reported that the stampede occurred around 1 a.m. Due to the large crowd, people started pushing and shoving while offering water. This led to the situation quickly getting out of control, causing many people to get trampled.
Crowd Management Issues
Devotees mentioned that while the temple usually sees large crowds throughout the year, the number significantly increases during the Shravan month, especially on Mondays. The queue for the ritual began forming around 10 p.m. on Sunday. By 12:30 a.m., as more people moved toward the Shiva Lingam, the stampede occurred.
The authorities are working to manage the aftermath of the incident and prevent future occurrences.
