At least eight people are feared dead and 12 others injured after a stampede broke out at the Sheetala Mata temple near Bihar Sharif on Tuesday. A large number of devotees had gathered at the temple, as it was the last Tuesday of the Chaitra month, a day when worshippers traditionally offer prayers and cold food (basi) to the deity.
Eyewitnesses said chaos erupted when devotees rushed to enter the temple, triggering the stampede. Several women were crushed in the surge, leading to multiple fatalities. The injured were taken to Sadar Hospital and Model Hospital for treatment. Two of the deceased have been identified as Rita Devi, 50, from Bihar, and Rekha Devi, 45, from Mathurapur Noorsarai.
Locals have alleged that the incident was a result of poor crowd management and inadequate police presence, as many personnel were reportedly deployed elsewhere for the President’s security. Barricades are said to have collapsed under the pressure of the crowd, worsening the situation.
Devotees present at the scene described the situation as chaotic. “It is always crowded here on Tuesdays. People came from far-off places for darshan. But the stampede happened due to mismanagement,” said devotee Mamata Devi. Another witness, Reena Rai, added, “People were trying to get darshan before others, and the crowd became uncontrollable.”
Samrat Choudhary expressed grief over the incident and extended condolences to the victims’ families. He said the government is providing all possible assistance and relief, and that proper medical care has been arranged for those injured.
