A tragic stampede at Bihar’s Sheetala Mata Temple in Nalanda leaves eight women dead. PM Modi and CM Nitish Kumar express grief, announce compensation, and order relief efforts amid questions over crowd control.
The incident occurred during a weekly religious gathering
Nalanda: A tragic stampede at the Sheetala Mata Temple in Bihar’s Nalanda district claimed the lives of at least eight women on Tuesday morning. The incident occurred during a weekly religious gathering when a large number of devotees had assembled at the temple premises, leading to overcrowding.
Several others were also injured and rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. Officials said the situation quickly spiraled out of control as the crowd surged within a confined space, triggering panic among devotees.
Bihar: Stampede at Nalanda Sheetla Mata Temple leaves 8 Dead; Several injured
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as “deeply painful” and extended condolences to the bereaved families. He also wished a speedy recovery for those injured.
The mishap in Nalanda district, Bihar, is deeply painful. I extend my condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. Prayers for the speedy recovery of those injured.
An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured…
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) March 31, 2026
The Prime Minister’s Office announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, while the injured will receive ₹50,000 as financial assistance.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also expressed sorrow over the loss of lives and announced additional compensation. Families of the deceased will receive ₹4 lakh from the state’s Disaster Management Department along with ₹2 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
Senior officials were immediately dispatched to the site on the Chief Minister’s instructions to oversee rescue and relief operations. Authorities have also been directed to ensure proper medical care for the injured.
According to preliminary reports, the stampede took place due to excessive crowding during the fair held near the temple. Eyewitnesses alleged that there was inadequate police presence to manage the influx of devotees, which may have worsened the situation.
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In response, local authorities ordered the closure of nearby shops and fair stalls to prevent further congestion and maintain order.
The incident has once again raised concerns over crowd management and safety arrangements at religious gatherings in India. With large numbers of devotees visiting such sites regularly, experts stress the need for stricter planning, better coordination, and deployment of adequate security personnel to prevent such tragedies.
