Seven devotees, including three women, tragically lost their lives in a stampede at the Baba Sidheshwar Nath temple in Bihar's Jehanabad district last night. The incident occurred during a consecration event held annually in the holy month of Shravan, with at least 35 others injured. The local authorities have denied any negligence, despite claims from witnesses and relatives that force was used to manage the crowd.

According to reports, there was a stampede following a scuffle involving a flower-seller, which some say escalated when National Cadet Corps (NCC) volunteers used lathis on the crowd. The affected families were seen mourning their loss, while the injured were treated at local hospitals in Makhdumpur and Sadar.

Locals have expressed concern that the death toll might rise, alleging that inadequate arrangements by the administration contributed to the chaos. They have criticized the police administration, suggesting that the situation could have been managed better.

In response, Vikash Kumar, the sub-divisional officer of Jehanabad, refuted claims of a lathi-charge by NCC volunteers, asserting that proper arrangements, including civil and medical teams, were in place. District Magistrate Alankrita Pandey indicated that the stampede resulted from a dispute among devotees, leading to the unfortunate incident. Further details are expected after the post-mortem examination.