Tragic Stampede at Bihar’s Siddheshwar Nath Temple on Shravan Monday: 7 Dead, 35 Injured

On the fourth Monday of Shravan, chaos erupted at Siddheshwarnath Temple during the Shravan Mela in Jahangabad, Bihar. Seven devotees, including three women, lost their lives, and 35 others were injured. The incident occurred in the Vanvar Hill area of Makhdoompur block around midnight on Sunday.

The Jahangabad Police Inspector has confirmed the death of seven people, with over 35 reported injured. The injured are being treated at local Makhdoompur and Sadar hospitals. One person mentioned that a female relative died in the chaos, attributing it to a lack of administrative oversight. According to those present, the administration had deployed National Cadet Corps personnel for security, who then reportedly used batons on the devotees. This led to a stampede as people fled, resulting in some falling and being trampled. The person criticized the administration for this lapse in handling the situation.

Witness Accounts

A witness named Manoj reported that a dispute among flower vendors near the temple led to the unrest. People began trampling over each other, and Manoj was caught underneath the bodies of the deceased. He said that if he had been there for another 1-2 minutes, he too would have died. He held the police and administration responsible for the incident, noting that while there were police officers on the road, there were none inside the temple. He estimated that at least 10 to 15 people died, with 50 to 60 injured.

Allegations from the Victims’ Families

The families of the deceased have accused the police of causing the stampede through baton charges. They claimed that devotees were descending from one side of the temple while others were climbing up, and in the ensuing chaos, the administrative staff started baton charges, leading to a stampede as people ran for safety, falling and getting trampled in the process.

Ambulance and Rescue Efforts

Krishna Kumar, a family member of the deceased, stated that around 50 people had died in the incident. Since 2 AM, people have been at the hospital, and he criticized the administration for inadequate arrangements and negligence. He mentioned that multiple bodies were being sent in each ambulance and that some bodies were still being retrieved.

Upon receiving information about the incident, the administration arrived at the scene and initiated relief and rescue operations. Jahangabad DM Alankrita Pandey stated, “We are monitoring the situation. It is now under control.