Nalanda stampede tragedy: 9 dead, PM Narendra Modi announces ex-gratia
Bihar stampede: At least nine persons were killed and several others injured during a stampede-like situation at Sheetla Temple in Bihar's Nalanda district on Tuesday. The incident occurred when a large number of devotees gathered at the temple for worship, leading to severe overcrowding and a stampede-like situation, during which several people were crushed.
Several teams of police officials along with local villagers rushed to the spot and launched relief and rescue operations. Visuals shows large numbers of devotees gathered at the temple premises. The state government has announced an ex gratia compensation of Rs 6 lakh for the families of the deceased. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced financial assistance from the PM Relief Fund,: Rs 2 lakh for the families of those who lost their lives and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
Following the tragedy, the district administration has shut down the temple to manage the situation. Local residents have alleged that there was inadequate security and poor crowd management at the site, which may have contributed to the stampede.
Devotees from Nalanda and nearby districts visit the temple every Tuesday, leading to heavy footfall. Eyewitnesses fear that the death toll could rise further as several people are reported to be injured.
The Bihar government has directed the Chief Secretary to initiate a detailed inquiry into the incident and submit a report. Expressing grief, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary assured that all possible assistance would be provided to the victims and their families.
- With inputs from agencies
