A stampede at the Baba Siddhanath Temple in Jehanabad district of Bihar claimed the life of at least seven devotes, leaving nine others injured.
The temple had a massive crowd of devotees due to the fourth Monday of the holy month of Shravan . The incident happened only a week after more than 120 people died during a religious gathering in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh.
Local residents indicate that a confrontation between a group of devotees and flower vendors near the temple entrance might have sparked the incident. However, the reason behind the stampede is currently being investigated by the authorities. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed grief over the loss of life and ordered to provide ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakhs to the next of the kin of each of the victims.
The temple in Jehsnabad is known for its inscriptions in Brahmi script, which provide valuable insights into the region’s history. It dates back to the Gupta period.