15 Hindu Devotees Die in India Hotel Fire, Temple Stampede

At least 15 Hindu devotees have died in two separate incidents in eastern India while observing the holy month of Shravan, officials said on Monday.

Eight people were killed in a hotel fire in Tarapith, West Bengal, while another seven pilgrims died in a stampede at a Shiva temple in neighbouring Bihar.

The victims of the hotel fire had travelled to Tarapith to worship during the final Monday of Shravan, a sacred period dedicated to Hindu deity Shiva that typically draws large crowds of devotees.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari expressed his condolences to the families of those who died, describing the incident as a devastating loss.

The cause of the hotel fire had not been established as of the time of the report.

Seven Killed in Temple Stampede

In Bihar, seven pilgrims were reportedly crushed to death and 19 others injured when a stampede broke out at the Ashok Dham temple in Lakhisarai district.

District Magistrate Shailendra Kumar said the incident began after rumours spread that an electric pole had fallen on worshippers inside the temple premises.

The rumour reportedly triggered panic among the large crowd, resulting in a deadly rush.

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary described the incident as “heart-wrenching” and announced compensation of 400,000 rupees (about $4,180) for the family of each victim.

Crowd Disasters Remain a Concern

Deadly stampedes have occurred repeatedly at large religious gatherings and festivals across India, with poor crowd management often cited as a contributing factor.

One of the country’s deadliest recent incidents occurred in 2024 in Uttar Pradesh, where 120 people were killed during a religious gathering attended by tens of thousands of devotees.

The latest incidents have once again raised concerns about safety measures and crowd control at major religious events across the country.