Gaya/Nalanda, Bihar: At least eight people were killed and eight others injured in a stampede at a temple in Bihar’s Nalanda district on Tuesday morning, officials said. The incident occurred at the Sheetla Temple in Maghra village under the jurisdiction of Deepnagar police station, where a large number of devotees had gathered for worship, as Tuesday is considered auspicious.
According to preliminary information, the crowd became unmanageable during the course of rituals, leading to panic and a stampede within the temple premises. Police and local authorities rushed to the spot soon after receiving information and shifted the injured to nearby hospitals.
बिहार के नालंदा स्थित शीतला मंदिर में अत्यधिक भीड़ होने के कारण भगदड़ हो गई जिससे कई लोग दब गए है।
हादसे में अबतक 8 लोगों की मौत हो गई है और दर्जन से अधिक लोग जख्मी हुए है। #Bihar #Nalanda #Stampede #NalandaStampede pic.twitter.com/zROA4m5Qy8
— Ravi Pandey🇮🇳 (@ravipandey2643) March 31, 2026
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed grief over the loss of lives and ordered an inquiry into the incident. The Chief Secretary has been directed to conduct a detailed investigation, while the Patna Commissioner has been sent to the site to oversee the situation.
The state government has announced compensation of ₹6 lakh for the families of each deceased, comprising ₹4 lakh from the Disaster Management Department and ₹2 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
Eyewitnesses said the temple campus had been crowded since early morning, but the situation suddenly turned chaotic. “There was a heavy rush of devotees. Suddenly, panic spread and people started running in different directions, leading to the stampede,” one eyewitness said.
Officials said arrangements such as barricading, queue management, and deployment of personnel were in place. However, the exact cause of the sudden panic remains unclear.
The Sheetla Temple in Bihar Sharif area witnesses heavy footfall every Tuesday, and such an incident has not been reported there ранее. Authorities are investigating the circumstances that led to the stampede.
The condition of the injured is being monitored, while families of the deceased have been informed.
