Barabanki Temple Stampede Kills 2, Injures 29 during Ritual

A spiritual gathering at the Awsaneshwar Mahadev temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki district turned into a scene of chaos and calamity as a sudden stampede claimed the lives of two devotees and injured 29 others. The unfortunate event unfolded on the intervening night of July 27 and 28, during the revered Jalabhishek ritual, an offering of water to lord Shiva that holds deep significance during the holy month of Sawan.

The incident took place in the Haidergarh locality, where devotees had convented in large numbers to observe the third Monday of Sawan with midnight offerings. According to official accounts, the ritual had just begun when an unexpected disruption occurred around 2 a.m. Panic rippled through the crowd following an electric shock that emanated from a broken overhead wire. According to the District Magistrate, the disturbance was caused when a troop of monkeys leaped onto an electric cable, causing it to snap and fall onto the temple’s tin-roofed shed, triggering a mild electrocution across the area.

In a matter of seconds, the atmosphere turned from pious to pandemonium. Devotees, fearing for their lives, ran in all directions, leading to a tragic crush. The sudden stamede left two worshippers lifeless on the ground and many more grievously injured. Those with critical traumas were transported promptly to the Haidergarh and Trivediganj Community Health Centers, while others were later referred to the district hospital for further care.

Awadhesh Kumar Yadav, Chief Medical Officer of Barabanki, shared updates stating, "All except one patient brought to the Haidergarh Community Health Centre have been discharged." He further added, "Ten people were brought to Trivediganj CHC, of which two were declared brought dead. The remaining are stable and being treated."

Despite the police already being deployed due to the anticipated crowd, the abruptness of the mishap made it difficult to manage the stampede instantly. A stronger police presence followed the aftermath to ensure crowd control and safety.

Shockingly, a parallel tragedy was reported from Haridwar’s Mansa Devi Temple. A stampede on the temple stairway claimed eight lives and injured over 30. In that incident, too, panic over a rumoured electrocution led to mass confusion and a fatal rush.

These twin tragedies are grim reminders of the perils of inadequate infrastructure and the overlooked need for robust emergency protocols during large-scale religious events. Preventive measures, including thermal breakers, reinforced crowd barriers, and enhanced animal deterrents, could help avert such grim fatalities in the future.