BIHARSHARIF: At least nine devotees, including eight women, lost their lives and more than 12 others sustained injuries after a stampede broke out during prayers at the Sheetla Mata Temple near Maghra village under Deepnagar police station area in Nalanda district on Tuesday morning.The incident occurred when the district and police administration were engaged in security and law and order arrangements for the visit of President Droupadi Murmu to attend the convocation of Nalanda University as chief guest on Tuesday. A majority of the injured were also women.
The incident took place during a prayer ritual when an unusually large crowd gathered on the temple premises. The situation turned chaotic as the crowd swelled, leading to panic and a sudden stampede among devotees.Calling the mishap deeply painful, PM Narendra Modi extended his condolences to those who lost their loved ones. “Prayers for the speedy recovery of those injured,” he wrote on X, announcing an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund to be given to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured.CM Nitish Kumar also expressed deep condolences over the incident, saying it was painful and that he was devastated. The chief minister office announced a total of Rs 6 lakh ex gratia to the kin of the deceased, including Rs 4 lakh from the disaster management department and Rs 2 lakh from the chief minister’s relief fund. Kumar also directed officials to ensure proper treatment of the injured.According to a local, Mantu Singh, a large number of devotees turn up from Nalanda and adjoining districts every Tuesday for Maa Sheetla’s “darshan”, and this Tuesday, being the last of the Chaitra month, the number of devotees swelled beyond expectations. “Many of them broke queues to get early darshan, which caused stampede,” he added.A hospital staff member said the condition of four to five injured people remained critical. He added that the death toll might rise.After receiving information about the incident, Nalanda DM Kundan Kumar, SP Bharat Soni and several officials from the police and district administration rushed to the spot and launched rescue and relief operations. The injured were shifted to hospitals for treatment, where they are currently undergoing medical care.Senior officials, including Patna divisional commissioner Animesh Kumar Parashar and the inspector general of police of the central range, inspected the temple premises following the incident.DM Kumar said the situation was under control.Authorities have ordered a detailed investigation into the incident. CCTV footage installed on the temple premises is being examined while a forensic team is conducting a scientific inspection of the site.Considering the seriousness of the incident, the SHO of Deepnagar police station was suspended with immediate effect.Considering the seriousness of the incident, the SHO of Deepnagar police station was suspended with immediate effect. Eight of the victims were identified as Devanti Devi (48), Mala Devi (36), Krinta Devi (48), Rita Devi (45), Kanti Devi (45), Asha Devi (65) and Rekha Devi (55) and Gudiya Devi (35). The ninth victim, a male, could not be identified till late in the evening.
