Seven worshippers, including three ladies, lost their lives in a terrible stampede at the Baba Sidheshwar Nath shrine in Jehanabad, Bihar, on Sunday night. The tragedy happened during a consecration ritual that is performed yearly during the holy month of Shravan. At least 35 additional people were also hurt in this incident. When the rush started, the temple atop the Barabar hills was full of worshippers.
Witnesses said that the stampede started when National Cadet Corps (NCC) volunteers assigned to crowd control used lathi-charging to subdue the advancing believers. Local officials, however, vehemently disagree, maintaining that the volunteers did not use force
The victims’ families are inconsolable; footage from Jehanabad shows people lamenting the deaths of their loved ones while the injured were taken to hospitals in Makhdumpur and Sadar for treatment. Locals are furious over the tragedy and accuse the administration of carelessness and poor planning.
However, Vikash Kumar, the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) of Jehanabad, refuted these allegations. “Nothing like that happened. This was an unfortunate incident. There was a strict vigil, and adequate arrangements, including force (NCC), civil deputations, and medical teams, were made,” he said, adding that more details would be provided after the post-mortem examinations.
Jehanabad District Magistrate Alankrita Pandey also downplayed the allegations, stating that the stampede was triggered by a dispute among kanwariyas (devotees carrying holy water) that escalated into a scuffle. She insisted that the situation was being closely monitored, and the necessary arrangements had been put in place.
Despite these official declarations, residents are still dubious and worry that the death toll may increase. The event has called into severe doubt the efficacy of the temple’s crowd management procedures, particularly when there are sizable religious crowds.
While enquiries are ongoing, the community is in grief over the unfortunate death of a member, and there have been requests for a comprehensive probe into the incident to ensure responsibility and avoid such tragedies in the future.
