Rajeev Sharma :- At least eight people lost their lives and several others were injured in a tragic stampede at the Sheetla Mata Temple in Bihar’s Nalanda district on Tuesday, raising serious concerns over crowd management and safety arrangements.
The incident took place on the last Tuesday of the Chaitra month, when a massive number of devotees had gathered at the temple for prayers. According to eyewitnesses, the situation turned chaotic when some people attempted to break the queue in a hurry to enter the temple, leading to panic and a sudden stampede.
Police and emergency teams rushed to the spot soon after the incident and began rescue operations. Over a dozen injured individuals were shifted to nearby hospitals, where eight were declared dead. Several of the injured are reported to be in critical condition.
The incident has sparked criticism of the local administration, with allegations of inadequate security and poor crowd control despite the expected heavy turnout. Locals claimed that proper arrangements were not in place to handle such a large gathering.
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and extended condolences to the families of the victims. He assured that all possible assistance is being provided to those affected and that the injured are receiving proper medical care.
Reports suggest that administrative attention may have been focused on an event at Nalanda University, which was attended by President Droupadi Murmu, potentially leading to limited deployment at the temple.
Authorities have ordered an investigation into the incident as efforts continue to assist the injured and maintain order in the area.
