National Desk : Voice of Calcutta

A tragic stampede claimed at least eight lives at a temple in Bihar’s Nalanda district on Tuesday morning, as an overwhelming crowd gathered on the last Tuesday of Chaitra.

Details:

The incident took place at the Shitala Temple in Maghra village, where devotees had assembled in large numbers since early morning. The occasion, considered highly auspicious, drew pilgrims from distant places, leading to an uncontrollable surge in crowd density.

According to eyewitness accounts, the situation spiraled out of control when sudden pushing and jostling broke out within the temple premises. Several devotees fell to the ground amid the chaos and were trampled, resulting in multiple fatalities.

All the deceased are reported to be women. Several injured persons have been rescued and admitted to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Mamta Devi, a devotee from Patna who narrowly escaped, described the scene as “completely chaotic,” alleging severe administrative lapses.

“There is always a crowd on Tuesdays, but today was unimaginable. There was no proper arrangement. Only one ambulance was available, and authorities were nowhere to be seen,” she said.

Senior police and administrative officials have reached the site, and a rescue operation is underway. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has expressed deep grief and ordered an impartial inquiry into the incident.

Notably, a similar tragedy occurred last year in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district, where nine devotees lost their lives in a stampede at the Venkateswara Swamy Temple.

National Desk : Voice of Calcutta