Nine killed in stampede at Sheetla temple in Bihar’s Nalanda district

Mangalore Today News Network

Nalanda, Mar 31, 2026: At least nine people, including eight women, were killed in a stampede at the Sheetla Mata Temple in Nalanda on Tuesday. While eight women died on the spot, a man succumbed to his injuries later at a hospital.

According to locals, a large number of devotees had gathered at the temple in the morning for ‘darshan’, a weekly ritual that draws heavy crowds every Tuesday. However, police presence at the site was reportedly insufficient, as around 2,500 personnel from eight districts had been deployed for security arrangements related to President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to Nalanda for the Nalanda University convocation.

 

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced an ex-gratia of Rs 6 lakh for the families of the deceased and directed Chief Secretary Pratyay Amrit to investigate the incident and submit a report. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed grief and announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for each victim’s family.

President Murmu, who was in Nalanda at the time, expressed shock over the tragedy. In a post on X in Hindi, she extended condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

बिहार के नालंदा में एक मंदिर में हुई भगदड़ में अनेक श्रद्धालुओं की मृत्यु का समाचार अत्यंत दुखद है। मैं सभी शोकाकुल परिवारजनों के प्रति गहरी संवेदना व्यक्त करती हूं। घायल हुए सभी लोगों के शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की मैं कामना करती हूं।

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 31, 2026

Eyewitnesses said the stampede occurred when devotees rushed forward in a bid to offer prayers early, leading to chaos and the collapse of the queue. Several women fell to the ground and were trampled in the surge, with some losing consciousness.

An ambulance reportedly arrived about 40 minutes after being called, by which time eight women had already died.

Nalanda Superintendent of Police Bharat Soni has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident and suspended the local Station House Officer, Rajmani, for alleged negligence.