Lagatar24 Desk
Patna: A devastating stampede at the Baba Sidheshwar Nath temple on Baravar hills in Bihar’s Jehanabad district resulted in the death of seven devotees, including three women, on Tuesday night. The tragic incident reportedly occurred after volunteers allegedly used lathis to control a surging crowd, although authorities have denied any wrongdoing.
The stampede left at least 35 others injured, who were swiftly taken to local hospitals in Makhdumpur and Jehanabad’s Sadar for treatment. The devotees had gathered for an annual consecration event during the holy month of Shravan, a time when the temple sees a large influx of pilgrims.
Inconsolable families were seen grieving over their loss, with visuals from the scene capturing the emotional toll of the incident. Some witnesses claimed the chaos began after an altercation involving a flower-seller escalated, leading to the alleged lathi-charge by NCC (National Cadet Corps) volunteers who were managing the crowd.
A relative of one of the victims criticized the lack of adequate arrangements by the administration, holding them accountable for the tragedy. “This happened due to the negligence of the police administration,” one devotee alleged.
However, Vikash Kumar, the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) of Jehanabad, dismissed these claims, stating that the volunteers did not resort to lathi-charge and that the incident was an unfortunate accident. He emphasized that adequate security and medical teams were present and that a thorough investigation would be conducted following the post-mortem reports.
District Magistrate Alankrita Pandey also commented on the situation, attributing the stampede to a dispute among kanwariyas (pilgrims) that led to a scuffle. Despite the official statements, local fears persist that the death toll could rise as more details emerge.
As the community mourns the loss of life, questions continue to be raised about the effectiveness of the crowd control measures and the accountability of those involved.
