Leaders across party lines express condolences over Bihar’s Ashok Dham stampede

Patna, Aug 17 (IANS) Leaders across party lines on Monday expressed their deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in the stampede at Bihar’s Ashok Dham Temple.

They also prayed for the speedy recovery and well-being of the devotees injured in the incident.

Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh popularly known as Lalan Singh who is an MP from Munger, which includes Lakhisarai, took to social media ‘X’ and said, “On the occasion of the third Monday at the sacred Ashok Dham temple in Lakhisarai, the crowd suddenly swelled significantly. During this time, rumours spread of an electricity wire falling, an electric pole collapsing, and current flowing, which caused a stampede among the devotees. The news of the deaths of several devotees in this heart-wrenching incident is extremely distressing.”

“My deepest condolences go out to all the grieving families who have lost their loved ones in this tragic event. I pray to Baba Bholenath that he grant peace and place at his divine feet to the departed souls and give strength to their families to bear this immense sorrow. I wish for the swift recovery of the injured. In this difficult time, my full sympathies are with the affected families. Om Shanti,” he said.

Union Minister Chirag Paswan also called the incident heart-wrenching and said, “The heart-wrenching stampede incident at Ashok Dham Temple in Lakhisarai is extremely sorrowful and painful. The news of the untimely deaths of the devotees has deeply wounded my heart.”

“In this hour of difficulty, my condolences are with the families of the deceased devotees. May God grant place to the departed souls at his sacred feet and bestow strength upon the grief-stricken families to bear this sorrow. I pray to God for the swift recovery and well-being of the injured devotees,” he said.

Bihar Minister Nishant Kumar said, “My heart is heavy with grief over the tragic stampede at Ashok Dham Temple in Lakhisarai. The news of the devotees’ demise in this accident is extremely heartbreaking. May God grant place to the departed souls at His holy feet and bestow strength upon the bereaved families to endure this immense sorrow. I pray for the swift recovery of all the devotees injured in the incident.”

Leader of the Opposition in Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav expressed grief over the incident and said, “I am deeply heartbroken by the news of numerous devotees being injured and the untimely demise of 7 individuals in the tragic incident caused by the spread of electric current from a fallen wire during the jalabhishek ritual at Ashok Dham (Indra Damaneshwar Mahadev Temple) in Lakhisarai district, Bihar, on the third Monday of Sawan, leading to chaos, panic, and a stampede.”

“The lack of proper safety measures and crowd management for devotees in the temple premises is indicative of the administrative mismanagement by the NDA government. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families and heartfelt tribute to the departed souls,” he said.

“I urge the government to provide compensation to the families of the deceased and make arrangements for the prompt treatment of the injured. I pray to God for the peace of the departed souls and the swift recovery of the injured,” Yadav said.

–IANS

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