A major tragedy has occurred in the Nalanda district of Bihar. A sudden stampede broke out at the temple of Goddess Sheetala here. Eight women have died after being trampled in the stampede.
बिहार के नालंदा में शीतला मंदिर में मची भगदड़, अबतक 8 महिलाओं की मौत, कई घायल
A major tragedy has struck Nalanda, Bihar. A stampede broke out at the Sheetla Temple fair, resulting in the deaths of eight people. Several others have sustained injuries. The stampede occurred suddenly on Tuesday at the shrine of Mata Sheetla Ashtami, located in the Maghra area of Bihar Sharif. Upon receiving the information, the police rushed to the scene and immediately initiated rescue operations. The injured were admitted to the hospital.
The injured were sent to the Model Hospital in Bihar Sharif for immediate medical attention, where their treatment is currently underway. According to eyewitnesses, a massive crowd had gathered within the temple premises since early morning, as it was the last Tuesday of the month of Chaitra. Amidst this gathering, chaos suddenly erupted for reasons yet to be determined, and within moments, the situation escalated into a stampede. The local administration and police arrived at the scene and engaged in relief and rescue operations. Officials have initiated the process of identifying the deceased and the injured. Following the incident, an atmosphere of grief and panic prevails throughout the entire region.
The Actual Cause of the Incident: Eyewitness Accounts
According to the local Station House Officer (SHO), the incident occurred around 10:00 AM. He stated that he received information regarding the incident at the temple at 10:00 AM, following which he immediately left a scheduled program involving the President’s visit and rushed directly to the temple. Due to the massive crowd of devotees, it took the police and ambulances nearly half an hour to reach the site, a delay that unfortunately prevented the saving of lives. However, local residents claim that the incident actually took place between 8:30 AM and 9:00 AM. They allege that the stampede broke out while temple priests (pandas) were collecting money to grant entry into the temple. Others suggest that the intense heat on that day played a role; they claim that a woman fainted and collapsed, triggering panic and causing devotees to flee in disarray. In the ensuing chaos, devotees trampled over one another in their desperate attempts to escape, resulting in deaths by asphyxiation and crushing.
Administration on High Alert at Thave Durga Temple Following Nalanda Stampede
A stampede broke out at the Sheetla Mata Temple fair in Bihar Sharif, Nalanda. In the wake of this tragedy, the Gopalganj police have also been placed on high alert. Security arrangements have been significantly bolstered at the Thave Durga Temple. DM Pawan Kumar Sinha has issued directives for the security arrangements at the temple to be monitored around the clock. This measure has been taken because hundreds of thousands of devotees are visiting the site daily, and the Navratri fair spans a duration of 30 days.
Temple Administration Halts Fair
An eyewitness recounted, “Due to it being the last Tuesday of the month of Chaitra, the Goddess’s temple was teeming with crowds. People had been standing in long queues since early morning, and there was a scramble to obtain an early darshan (glimpse of the deity). Amidst this, a stampede suddenly broke out, leaving several women and children trapped beneath the crowd. Eight people lost their lives.” Notably, upon receiving news of the tragedy, the police arrived at the scene and took charge of the situation. A heavy police force was deployed, and the temple fair has been temporarily halted. The injured were transported to the hospital via ambulances.
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