Rumor Triggers Deadly Stampede at Bihar's Ashok Dham Temple

A stampede at the Ashokdham Temple in Lakhisarai district, Bihar, India, killed at least seven people and injured more than a dozen others on Monday, August 17, 2026.

The incident occurred as thousands of Hindus gathered to offer prayers and perform Jal Abhishek to Lord Shiva on the third Monday of the auspicious Shravan or Sawan month. Preliminary accounts indicate at least 50,000 devotees had gathered at the site when a rumor triggered panic among the crowd. All the victims are reportedly women, and several injured individuals are in critical condition.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF (Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund) for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for every wounded individual. The tragedy was the result of a rumor that a live electric wire had fallen on people after a pole collapsed, but it was actually a cable wire.

Officials stated that broken barricades and a swelling crowd also contributed to the stampede-like situation. The incident occurred between 6:30 and 6:45 am. Lakhisarai DM Shailendra Kumar noted the crowd swelled in an unprecedented manner. This is the second stampede at an Indian temple this year; earlier, nine people were killed in a stampede at another temple in Bihar's Nalanda district on March 31, 2026.

Rumors and panic have repeatedly turned massive gatherings across India into deadly stampedes, with past incidents including Patna’s Gandhi Maidan and temple gatherings in Ujjain. The incident highlights how misinformation, overcrowding, and poor crowd management can have devastating consequences. In Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, 13 devotees fainted at the Nagchandreshwar Temple on the same day due to overcrowding, as the temple, which opens only once a year on Nag Panchami, witnessed a rush of devotees.

A stampede-like situation also erupted at the Nagchandreshwar Mandir in Ujjain, leaving at least three people injured. Rescue and medical operations were started by the administration and authorities, and the toll is feared to rise.