8 Women Killed in Stampede at Maghda Sheetla Temple in Nalanda on Last Tuesday of Chaitra

Patna Commissioner Rushed to Bihar Sharif as Death Toll Feared to Rise; Temple and Fair Shut

Key Points:

• Stampede at Maghda Sheetla Temple in Nalanda kills 8 women, injures several others
• Narrow single-entry sanctum and massive crowd on last Chaitra Tuesday triggered the crush
• Patna Commissioner dispatched to Bihar Sharif; injured being treated at Model Hospital

DESK – At least eight women were killed and several others injured in a stampede at the Maghda Sheetla Temple in Nalanda district of Bihar on Tuesday. The tragedy unfolded during the last Tuesday of the Chaitra month, when an exceptionally large crowd of devotees had gathered at the temple.

The temple is located in the Deepnagar police station area of Nalanda district, a few kilometres from Bihar Sharif.

A fair had been underway at the site since March 10 in connection with Sheetla Mata. Tuesday was its final day. Devotees had turned up in large numbers for a last opportunity to offer prayers.

According to eyewitnesses, the stampede was triggered when the surging crowd attempted to push forward to get darshan quickly. The temple’s sanctum sanctorum is reportedly very small. Moreover, there is only a single narrow entry passage into it.

As thousands of pilgrims pressed forward simultaneously, a sudden and violent crush developed. Women, who were caught in the middle of the surge, bore the brunt of the stampede.

The injured have been rushed to the Model Hospital in Bihar Sharif for treatment. The death toll stood at eight as of Tuesday afternoon. However, authorities have said the number of fatalities could rise further.

Following the incident, the temple and the fairground were both immediately shut down. Police moved swiftly to control the crowd and restore order at the site.

Meanwhile, the Patna Divisional Commissioner was dispatched to Bihar Sharif as soon as news of the tragedy reached the administration. Senior officials are on the ground overseeing relief and rescue operations.

The Maghda Sheetla Temple is a revered shrine that draws devotees not only from across India but also from abroad. The main worship day at the temple is traditionally Ashtami during the Krishna Paksha of Chaitra. The annual fair had been drawing pilgrims steadily since its commencement on March 10.

Stampedes at religious gatherings have claimed numerous lives across India in recent years. A similar tragedy had struck at a temple in Andhra Pradesh during Devuthani Ekadashi in November 2025, when ten devotees were killed.