At least six people were killed and several others injured in a stampede-like incident at the Ashok Dham temple in Lakhisarai, Bihar, eastern India, after an electric pole collapsed, officials said.
Senior police official Shivam Kumar told ANI on Monday: “There is information that an electric pole fell there and people got electrocuted, leading to a stampede-like situation. We can only state the exact cause after verifying everything.”
The incident occurred as a large number of devotees gathered at the temple to offer water to Lord Shiva during the holy month of Shravan, according to the Press Trust of India.
A senior official told Reuters that at least five people were injured. Videos from ANI showed relatives gathered at a hospital while rescue workers brought the injured.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary wrote on social media platform X: “The incident at Ashok Dham in Lakhisarai is extremely tragic and heart-wrenching. I am deeply shocked to hear of the devotees’ deaths in this accident. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the affected families. The administration has been given the necessary instructions to ensure timely and proper treatment for the injured.”
India has a history of crowd-related accidents, including one last year when 30 people died at the Maha Kumbh festival as tens of millions gathered to bathe in sacred waters.
