Tragedy in Nalanda: 8 Women Dead in Stampede at Sheetla Mata Temple During Chaitra Pooja

Nalanda, Bihar March 31, 2026 — A devastating stampede at the historic Sheetla Mata Temple in Bihar’s Nalanda district claimed the lives of at least eight women and left several others injured on Tuesday morning.

The tragedy occurred during the auspicious prayers of the last Tuesday of the Chaitra month, a day that traditionally attracts tens of thousands of devotees to the shrine.

According to initial reports, the massive influx of pilgrims led to severe overcrowding, which quickly spiraled into a chaotic crush as the crowd management systems failed to handle the surge.

Eyewitnesses described a scene of sudden panic where the lack of regulated entry and exit points triggered a desperate rush among the worshippers, resulting in the fatal incident.In the immediate aftermath, local police and administrative teams launched a rapid rescue operation, cordoning off the area and shifting the injured to nearby medical facilities for urgent treatment.

While the exact trigger for the panic is still under investigation, the disaster has sparked a nationwide debate regarding the adequacy of safety protocols and crowd control measures at high-traffic religious sites during major festivals. Senior officials remain on-site to oversee the inquiry and coordinate relief efforts, as the community mourns the loss of life on what was meant to be a day of sacred celebration.

Additional details are expected to emerge as the formal investigation into the lapse in security arrangements continues.