2 Dead, Over 40 Injured After Electric Shock Triggers Stampede at UP Temple

At least two devotees were killed and over 40 others injured in a stampede-like situation at the Awsaneshwar Mahadev Temple in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, during the early hours of Monday. The chaos erupted after an overhead electric wire, reportedly snapped by monkeys, fell onto a tin shed, electrocuting several people in the massive crowd gathered for prayers on the third Monday of the holy Sawan month.

The incident occurred around 3 am as a large number of pilgrims had gathered at the temple in Haidergarh for the ‘jalabhishek’ ritual. According to officials, panic ensued when the live wire electrified the metal shed covering part of the temple premises. One of the deceased was identified as 22-year-old Prashant, while the identity of the second victim is yet to be confirmed. Both died during treatment at a local health center.

District Magistrate Shashank Tripathi informed the media that the accident was caused by an old electric wire that was damaged by monkeys. “Some monkeys jumped onto the overhead electric wires, causing them to fall onto the tin shed. As a result, people received electric shocks,” Tripathi said, adding that the situation was brought under control by the police forces already present at the scene.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken cognizance of the incident and instructed senior officials to ensure immediate relief and proper medical care for all those injured. An investigation into the incident is now underway.

This tragedy is the second of its kind in just two days at a major religious gathering. On Sunday, a stampede at the Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, claimed eight lives and left around 30 injured. That incident was also triggered by panic among pilgrims following rumours of an electric current near the temple’s entrance.