A stampede at the Baba Siddhanth Temple in Bihar’s Jehanabad district claimed the lives of seven pilgrims on Monday morning. The tragedy occurred during a religious gathering at the temple, where hundreds of devotees had assembled. The victims included five women and two men, according to local authorities. In addition to the fatalities, nine others sustained injuries and were swiftly transported to hospitals in Makhdumpur and Jehanabad for treatment.
Jehanabad District Magistrate Alankrita Pandey confirmed that the situation is now under control. In a statement to the press, she said, “At least seven people died, and nine were injured in a stampede at Baba Siddhnath Temple in Makhdumpur of Jehanabad district. We are monitoring everything, and the situation is now under control.”
The stampede has sent shockwaves through the region, prompting immediate action from local officials. Both the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police visited the scene to assess the situation. “The DM and SP visited the spot, and they are taking stock of the situation… A total of seven people have died… We are meeting and inquiring about the family members of the deceased and injured,” Jehanabad Station House Officer Divakar Kumar Vishwakarma told ANI. He also mentioned that the authorities are in the process of identifying the victims before sending their bodies for post-mortem examinations.
Jehanabad’s Sub-Divisional Officer Vikas Kumar expressed his sorrow over the incident, describing it as “sad” and assuring the public that all necessary arrangements had been in place. “It is a sad incident… All the arrangements were tight. We are taking stock of the situation and will provide further updates,” Kumar stated.
This tragedy in Jehanabad follows a similar incident in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras earlier this year, where a stampede at a religious congregation led by Baba Narayan Hari resulted in over 120 deaths. The recurring nature of such incidents has raised concerns about crowd management and safety measures at religious gatherings across the country. As the investigation into the Jehanabad stampede continues, the focus remains on ensuring the safety of devotees and preventing such tragedies in the future.
