Lakhisarai: At least seven women were killed and several others were injured during a stampede at the Ashok Dham Temple in Lakhisarai district, Bihar, according to officials. The tragic incident took place early Monday morning and has left the local community in shock.

According to Anadolu Agency, the stampede was triggered by a rumor that spread among the devotees. Shailendra Kumar, a senior civil official, explained that the chaos began when an electricity pole fell, leading to panic as a rumor circulated that a live wire had landed on the crowd. This caused a surge of pressure on the women's queue, resulting in many falling and ultimately leading to the fatalities.

Kumar confirmed that seven women lost their lives in the incident. Authorities are currently working to determine the exact number of those injured. The state administration has been alerted to ensure the swift treatment of all injured parties.

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary addressed the incident on the US-based social media platform X. He announced that he has directed the administration to provide proper and speedy medical assistance to those injured in the stampede.