- Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has expressed grief over the stampede
- Government has announced a compensation of ₹6 lakh for the families of the deceased
Punjab Newsline | Patna
At least 9 women died and more than 6 were injured in a stampede at the Mata Sheetal Aashtami Temple in Maghra on Tuesday morning. The incident occurred on the last Tuesday of the Chaitra month, when a large number of devotees had gathered at the temple.
Following the tragedy, the administration has ordered the closure of the temple and the fair. Among the 9 deceased, the identities of 2 women have been confirmed: Rita Devi (50) and Rekha Devi (45), both residents of Nalanda. The injured have been admitted to Model Hospital for treatment.
In response to the incident, the Patna Commissioner has been sent to Biharsharif, and the Chief Minister has instructed the Chief Secretary to conduct an investigation. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has expressed grief over the stampede. The government has announced a compensation of ₹6 lakh for the families of the deceased.
Female devotees reported that the temple was overcrowded due to the fair, and the sanctum sanctorum was small. “People were trying to move ahead quickly to get darshan and were not following any queue,” they said.
A witness present at the temple said, “After the stampede, several women were lying unconscious, and some were screaming in pain. The police were informed immediately. Initially, 2-3 police personnel arrived, and together with the devotees, they helped the injured. Multiple calls were made for an ambulance, which reached only after about 40 minutes, along with some senior police officers. The injured were then taken to the hospital. While lifting some of the women, it was apparent that a few had already passed away.”