Nalanda District, Bihar State, March 31 – IPU Media Update News: A stampede occurred today in the Nalanda district of Bihar. Locals reported that the stampede broke out suddenly between 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM this morning at the Mata Sheetala Ashtami Temple, located in the Magra area of ​​Bihar Sharif. Upon receiving the information, police immediately rushed to the scene and initiated rescue operations. Approximately nine devotees lost their lives in this stampede. All of the deceased were women. Another dozen people sustained serious injuries. Locals suggest that the death toll could rise further. The incident reportedly took place about 5 kilometers from Bihar Sharif in the Nalanda district. As it was the last Tuesday of the month of Chaitra, a massive number of devotees had thronged the temple. Scenes of chaos and panic prevailed at the temple following the stampede; the sight of numerous women lying unconscious on the ground was truly tragic.

So far, two of the deceased devotees have been identified: Rita Devi (50), wife of Dinesh Rajak, a resident of Shakunt Bihar; and Rekha Devi (45), wife of Kamlesh Prasad, a resident of Mathurapur in Nursarai. The process of identifying the remaining deceased individuals is currently underway. The injured have been transported to a nearby model hospital for medical treatment. As the day coincided with Ashtami the eighth day of the Krishna Paksha (waning phase of the moon) in the month of Chaitra a massive number of devotees flocked to the temple to seek the Goddess’s blessings. On the day of ” Sheetalashtami “, local residents traditionally refrain from lighting stoves in their homes; instead, they offer food cooked the previous day as Naivedyam (sacred offering) to the Goddess. Consequently, the temple witnesses an immense influx of devotees on this Ashtami day, resulting in long queues for the Darshan (sacred viewing) of the Goddess.

Responding immediately to the situation, the government administration issued orders to close both the temple and the associated fair (Jatara), intensive efforts are currently underway to bring the situation under control. In the wake of this tragic incident, the Central and State governments have jointly announced a total compensation package of ₹8 lakhs for the families of the deceased. Furthermore, while the Central Government has announced financial assistance of ₹50,000 for the injured, the State Government has pledged to bear the full cost of their medical treatment.

Locals are attributing this tragedy to the massive overcrowding at the temple premises, coupled with lapses in management and organization.

** Details regarding the stampede caused by overcrowding at the Sheetala Mata Temple in Maghra village **

* Location : Maghra Sheetala Mata Temple, Nalanda, Bihar.
*Time : Between 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM.
* Fatalities : 9 women (according to current reports).
* Cause : A massive influx of devotees marking the final Tuesday of the month of Chaitra leading to a stampede within the queue lines.
* Situation : The injured have been shifted to nearby hospitals.
* Government Response : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed deep shock over the incident. The Central and State governments jointly announced a total compensation of ₹8 lakhs. Furthermore, while the Central government announced financial assistance of ₹50,000 for the injured, the State government gave an assurance that it would bear the full cost of their medical treatment.

Locals and devotees alike have expressed profound shock and grief over this tragedy.

— M Venkata T Reddy, News Editor and Investigative Journalist