00:01At least seven people have been killed and more than a dozen others were injured in a stampede
00:06at a Hindu temple in the eastern state of Bihar. The crush happened at the Ashok Dam temple early
00:12on Monday as thousands of worshippers gathered to make offerings to the Hindu deity Shiva during
00:18the holy month of Shravan. Local officials say panic broke out after rumors spread that an
00:23electricity pole had fallen on devotees inside the temple grounds, sparking fears of electrocution.
00:30Two trains arrived shortly after, increasing the number of people inside the temple significantly
00:35and causing the stampede as worshippers hurried to escape. Local reports say many of those killed in
00:41the crowd crush were women, with at least four identified as women ranging in age between 44
00:46and 55. The state's chief minister, Samra Chaudhary, described the deaths as heart-wrenching and
00:53announced compensations of roughly $4,200 for the families of each of those killed. India's Prime
00:59minister Narendra Modi also expressed his condolences, adding that local authorities
01:03were assisting all those in need.
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