At least seven devotees were killed and a dozen others injured on Monday (August 17, 2026) in a stampede at Ashok Dham temple in Lakhisarai district, Bihar, due to a heavy rush of devotees at the temple.

An eyewitness said that two trains full of devotees had reached Lakhisarai railway station, and the devotees, mostly women, rushed to offer sacred water to Lord Shiva at the temple on the third auspicious Monday of the month of Shrawan. The rush led to a stampede at the temple after a bamboo barricade broke and an electric pole snapped at the site, they said.

“The incident happened at 6:40 in the morning today due to a heavy rush of devotees… the barricade broke down, which triggered a sudden stampede that led to the incident… district officials were present at the site to control the situation,” said Lakhisarai District Magistrate Shailendra Kumar, who took charge of the district in April 2026.

The white-domed Ashok Dham temple is visible from the train and lies close to Lakhisarai railway station.

Locals said that on the third Somvari (Monday) of the auspicious month of Shrawan, at least seven devotees died, most of them women, and over a dozen were injured. The injured have been admitted to the Sadar (town) government hospital for medical assistance.

The death toll and number of injured could rise further, locals added.

More details to follow.