News Desk: The Government of Bihar has announced an ex-gratia of ₹6 lakh each for the families of those who lost their lives in a stampede at the Maa Sheetla Temple in Nalanda on Tuesday. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar stated that ₹4 lakh will be provided from the Disaster Management Department and an additional ₹2 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to the next of kin of each deceased. The tragic incident occurred during a weekly fair at the temple, where heavy overcrowding reportedly triggered the stampede, leaving several devotees dead and many others injured.
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Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed grief over the incident, calling it “extremely heartbreaking,” and assured that the government is extending all possible assistance to the affected families. He also confirmed that proper medical arrangements have been made for the injured. In the aftermath, authorities have ordered the closure of shops around the fair area, while police personnel have been deployed to restore order. The injured are currently undergoing treatment at nearby hospitals.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as devotees ran to escape the surge. Some alleged inadequate crowd management and insufficient police deployment. A devotee, Reena Roy, claimed that attempts to bypass the designated queue system contributed to the chaos. Officials are closely monitoring the situation as investigations continue into the cause of the tragedy.
