8 Killed in Stampede at Nalanda’s Sheetla Mata Temple; Enquiry Launched into the Incident

At least eight people lost their lives in a stampede during prayers at the Sheetla Mata Temple on Tuesday, triggering concerns over crowd management at the site. The Bihar government announced an ex-gratia of ₹6 lakh for the families of those killed. The Bihar Chief Secretary has been directed to launch an inquiry into the incident and submit a detailed report to the state government.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed grief over the incident and said all necessary assistance would be extended to the victims. The compensation includes ₹4 lakh from the State Disaster Management Department and ₹2 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed condolences and announced financial assistance from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, ₹2 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for those injured.

Following the incident, the district administration shut down the temple premises to bring the situation under control. Authorities have initiated measures to manage the aftermath, even as fears remain that the death toll could rise.

Locals alleged that inadequate security arrangements and poor crowd control contributed to the tragedy. Devotees from Nalanda and nearby districts typically gather in large numbers at the temple in Maghada village every Tuesday, leading to heavy footfall.

Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav expressed condolences and called for a high-level probe into the stampede. He also urged the government to ensure proper medical care and support for those injured.

Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and Assembly Speaker Prem Kumar also mourned the loss of lives and assured that all possible assistance would be provided to those affected.​