Ashok Dham Temple Stampede: In a tragic incident, at least seven people were killed and several others were injured after a stampede broke out at Ashok Dham Temple in Bihar’s Lakhisarai on Monday.
A huge
crowd of devotees had gathered at the revered temple to offer prayers and perform jalabhishek (water offering) to Lord Shiva on the occasion of the third Monday of the holy Shravan month. As per preliminary information, around 50,000 devotees were reportedly present at the temple amid the heavy rush.
According to Lakhisarai SDPO Shivam Kumar, the incident took place after an electric pole was believed to have fallen, following which reports of people being electrocuted led to a stampede-like situation.
“Seven casualties have been reported. It is being said that an electric pole fell there and people were electrocuted, which led to a stampede-like situation. We can tell you the exact reason only after verifying everything,” Kumar said as quoted by news agency ANI.
#WATCH | UPDATE | Bihar: Seven people died in a stampede-like incident at Ashokdham in Lakhisarai. Several injuries reported.
SDPO Shivam Kumar tells ANI, “Seven casualties have been reported. It is being said that an electric pole fell there and people were electrocuted, which… pic.twitter.com/jqOdIBj8rw
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2026
According to district authorities, the temple had been witnessing an unusually heavy rush since the early hours of Monday. Lakhisarai District Magistrate Shailendra Kumar said he had been at the site since around 3 am and arrangements had been made anticipating a large crowd.
While speaking with reporters, DM Shailendra Kumar said that an unprecedented surge of devotees, intensified by the arrival of two trains around 6.30-6.45 am, led to a barricade collapse outside the temple.
“The crowd swelled in an unprecedented manner. Around 6.30-6.45 am, two trains came here that too added to the crowd. Arrangements were made as we had anticipated the crowd. We then came to know that barricading broke on one side due to the crowd and people fell on each other. We rushed 10-15 people here immediately,” Kumar said.
The DM said officials immediately rushed to the spot and people trapped under the crowd were pulled out. Ambulances stationed outside the temple were used to take the injured to hospital.
Following the incident, police, district administration and medical teams reached the spot. Rescue and relief operations were launched, while authorities worked to clear the area and bring the situation under control.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed grief over the incident and condoled loss of lives.
“The incident at Ashok Dham in Lakhisarai is extremely tragic and heart-wrenching. The news of the deaths of devotees in the accident has left my heart deeply distressed. My deepest condolences go out to the bereaved families. Necessary instructions have been issued to the administration for the proper and expeditious treatment of the injured. May God grant peace to the departed souls and a swift recovery to the injured,” he said in a post on X.
लखीसराय के अशोकधाम की घटना अत्यंत दुःखद एवं हृदयविदारक है।
हादसे में श्रद्धालुओं की मृत्यु की खबर से मन व्यथित है। शोक संतप्त परिवारों के प्रति मेरी गहरी संवेदनाएं हैं।
घायलों के समुचित एवं त्वरित इलाज के लिए प्रशासन को आवश्यक निर्देश दिए गए हैं। ईश्वर दिवंगत आत्माओं को शांति…
— Samrat Choudhary (@samrat4bjp) August 17, 2026
Bihar Cabinet Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha has also left for Lakhisarai following the incident, while senior officials have been directed to reach the spot.
The Ashok Dham Temple, also known as the Shri Indradamneshwar Mahadev Temple, is one of Lakhisarai’s prominent religious sites and witnesses a large influx of devotees during Sawan.
