At least seven women died and several others were injured after a stampede broke out at a temple in Bihar, eastern India, officials said.
The incident happened early Monday at the Ashok Dham Temple in Lakhisarai district after a “rumor spread that a live wire had fallen on the devotees,” according to Shailendra Kumar, a senior civil official.
“A electricity pole fell and a rumor spread that a live wire had fallen on the devotees. This triggered pressure on the women’s queue and women fell on top of each other,” he said.
Kumar confirmed that seven devotees had died, while authorities were still working to determine the precise number of people injured in the incident.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said on the US social media platform X that “necessary instructions have been issued to the administration for the proper and expeditious treatment of the injured.”
