A devastating incident turned a sacred occasion into a nightmare at the Ausaneshwar Mahadev Temple in Haidergarh, Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh. On the holy occasion of Jalabhishek during the month of Shravan, thousands of devotees had gathered at the temple in the early hours of Monday. Around 2 AM, a high-voltage electric wire snapped allegedly due to monkeys jumping on it and fell onto a tin roof inside the temple premises, instantly electrifying the surrounding area.
Panic spread like wildfire as devotees, fearing electrocution, began to flee in all directions. In the chaos that ensued, a stampede-like situation unfolded, leading to the tragic death of two people and injuries to over 30 others, including women, children, and the elderly.
Among the deceased was 22-year-old Prashant, a resident of Mubarakpura. The identity of the second deceased person is yet to be confirmed. The injured were immediately rushed to nearby community health centres in Haidergarh and Trivediganj, while critically wounded individuals were transferred to the Barabanki District Hospital for advanced care.
Top administrative officials, including the District Magistrate Shashank Tripathi and the Superintendent of Police, arrived at the scene to oversee rescue operations. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed deep condolences and announced ₹5 lakh compensation for each bereaved family, along with free medical treatment for all the injured.
The incident has sparked serious questions about safety measures and crowd management at religious places. With thousands visiting such temples daily especially during auspicious months like Shravan the lack of proper electrical maintenance and structural safety can lead to devastating consequences, as seen in this tragic episode.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine if negligence or infrastructural failure contributed to the disaster. This incident serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need for improved safety protocols in places of worship to ensure that faith and festivals never again turn into scenes of fear and fatality.
