LUCKNOW: Amid hymns and chants to please Lord Shiva on the third Monday of the holy Shravan month, panic suddenly gripped the devotees, resulting in a stampede which claimed two lives and left over 40 injured in the melee.
As per local sources, the cause of the stampede was a high-tension wire which was pulled by monkeys from a pole, and it fell onto a tin shed at the Ausaneshwar Mahadev temple in Barabanki, around 90 km from state capital Lucknow. The sudden electric shock ran across the temple premises, sparking chaos and a stampede.
The tragedy struck around 2.30 am as thousands of devotees thronged the temple in Haidergarh for Jalabhishek, the revered ritual of offering water to Lord Shiva during Shravan.
The Mondays of the month are considered auspicious, drawing crowds from across the district and beyond. “We were going to offer water when suddenly a loud noise came from near the third breaker. Soon after, current spread through the area and people began to collapse while some were heard calling for help," said Vinay Maurya, a devotee recovering at the Haidergarh Community Health Centre.
According to Barabanki District Magistrate Shashank Tripathi, chain of events began when a troop of monkeys jumped onto an overhead high-tension wire. “The wire snapped and fell onto the tin shed inside the temple premises causing a sudden electric shock, and in panic, devotees began running, leading to a stampede," he explained.
The deadly combination of electrocution and the rush to escape worsened the situation. “Two people lost their lives, and more than 40 sustained injuries in the incident," said the DM. The deceased were identified as Ramesh Kumar, 35, and Prashant Kumar, 16.
Recalling the chaos, the devotees said that they were in a long queue when suddenly the shed above them sparked. “I felt a jolt and saw people screaming and falling. My mother was electrocuted and my aunt collapsed," said Shalini Devi, another eyewitness who was taken to CHC for treatment.
Meanwhile, taking cognizance of the incident, UP CM Yogi Adityanath expressed deep sorrow at the loss of lives and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the bereaved families while directing the authorities concerned to ensure proper treatment of the injured.
“Deeply saddened by the unfortunate accident at Shri Awsaneshwar Mahadev temple in Barabanki. My condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. Relief and medical assistance are being provided," read a message from the Chief Minister’s Office on X.
According to Barabanki Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Awadhesh Yadav, emergency measures were swiftly undertaken. “Police brought 29 devotees to Haidergarh CHC. Nine were referred to Trivediganj, six to Kothi CHC, and five critical patients were shifted to the district hospital. Two were declared dead upon arrival. The total number of injured exceeds 40," said Dr Yadav.
Medical teams worked through the night, with additional staff deployed at the district hospital. “Most of the injured are stable now, but five remain critical," Dr Yadav added.
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya termed the tragedy “deeply unfortunate" and urged stronger safety measures at temples.
The Awsaneshwar Mahadev temple, located about 40 km from Barabanki district headquarters, is among the most revered Shiva shrines in the region. Every Shravan, thousands undertake barefoot pilgrimages to offer Jalabhishek. Temple committee member Mahant Vijay Giri said the shrine had been opened at 1 am and within an hour, the crowd had swelled beyond 2,000. “The tragedy occurred suddenly after monkeys disturbed the wire. It was beyond our control," he said.
An official inquiry has been ordered to ascertain lapses and prevent a recurrence.