A stampede at a Hindu temple and a hotel fire in eastern India have left 14 people dead and several others injured.
The stampede occurred Monday near Ashok Dham Temple in Lakhisarai, Bihar, where thousands of devotees had gathered during the holy month of Shravan. Seven people died and more than a dozen were injured. Preliminary reports suggest that an electrical wire may have snapped outside the temple, causing panic among worshippers who feared electrocution. As the crowd rushed to safety, part of a barricade collapsed, resulting in a deadly crush.
Hours earlier, a fire broke out at a four-story hotel in Tarapith, West Bengal, where many guests were pilgrims visiting nearby temples. The fire started on the ground floor while most people were asleep. At least seven people were killed, while several others suffered serious injuries, including burns and breathing difficulties caused by smoke. The hotel management suspected that an electrical component may have triggered the fire, but authorities are still investigating.
Crowd-related deaths are not uncommon in India during major religious gatherings, where huge numbers of worshippers often gather in limited spaces. Similar tragedies have occurred during religious festivals in recent years, including the Maha Kumbh festival in 2025, when at least 30 people died in a crowd crush.