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Two people were killed and more than 40 injured in a stampede at a temple in Uttar Pradesh early Monday after an overhead electric wire snapped and fell onto a tin shed, triggering panic among hundreds of devotees.

 

The stampede occurred outside the Awsaneshwar Mahadev Temple in Barabanki district around 3 a.m., when worshippers had gathered in large numbers for darshan on the third Monday of the Sawan month, officials said.

 

District Magistrate Shashank Tripathi said an old electric wire, damaged by monkeys, fell onto a tin shed covering part of the temple premises, sending an electric current through the metal structure.

 

“Devotees had gathered here for darshan on the third Monday of Sawan. Some monkeys jumped onto the overhead electric wires, causing them to fall onto the tin shed. As a result, around 19 people received electric shocks. The situation is otherwise under control,” Tripathi said.

 

One of the deceased was identified as 22-year-old Prashant, a resident of Mubarakpura village under Lonikatra police station limits. The other victim has not yet been identified. Both died during treatment at the Trivediganj Community Health Centre.

 

Eyewitnesses said panic broke out when the live wire fell, spreading an electric current rapidly through the tin roof and shocking devotees standing underneath. The resulting chaos led to a stampede as people rushed to escape the danger.

 

Police personnel were present at the temple when the incident took place, and an investigation is underway to ascertain further details.

 

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognisance of the incident and directed officials to provide immediate relief and ensure proper medical treatment for the injured.

 

This is the second such incident in two days. On Sunday, a stampede at the Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, left eight people dead and 30 others injured. Panic spread among pilgrims after rumours of an electric current near the stairway entrance triggered a rush.

 

Haridwar SSP Pramendra Singh Dobal confirmed that the chaos erupted amid a heavy crowd of devotees climbing to the hilltop shrine, which is located more than 500 feet up in the Shivalik hills and attracts thousands during weekends and the Sawan month.

 

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the Haridwar incident.