A stampede at the Baba Siddhanath Temple in Bihar’s Jehanabad district on Monday morning resulted in the deaths of seven people and injuries to nine others. The incident occurred on the Vanavar hill in the Makhdumpur block area, where a large crowd had gathered for religious observances.
The stampede was reportedly triggered by a brawl that broke out after a flower seller got into an altercation. According to Manoj, an eyewitness who narrowly escaped the incident, the situation escalated quickly. “There was a brawl, and many people were trapped. I was pulled out just in time,” he said. Manoj noted that the police presence was inadequate at the scene, with officers stationed along the route rather than inside the temple area.
In the aftermath, the injured were taken to hospitals in Makhdumpur and Jehanabad. District Magistrate Alankrita Pandey and other senior officials visited the site to manage the situation and ensure the safety of the remaining crowd. “The situation is now under control,” confirmed Jehanabad SHO Divakar Kumar Vishwakarma. He added that the authorities are working to identify the deceased and are in contact with their families. The bodies will be sent for post-mortem examination as part of the ongoing investigation.
This tragic event is the latest in a series of deadly stampedes in India, highlighting the need for better crowd management and safety measures during large gatherings.
