Patna

Nitish Kumar on Tuesday expressed deep grief over the tragic stampede at the Sheetla Mata Temple in Nalanda and announced an ex-gratia of ₹6 lakh for the families of each deceased victim.

According to an official release, the compensation includes ₹4 lakh from the Disaster Management Department and ₹2 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. The Chief Minister termed the incident “extremely tragic” and said it had left him deeply distressed.

He also directed officials to ensure immediate relief and medical assistance for the injured. Senior authorities have already reached the site and are overseeing rescue and relief operations.

Earlier, Samrat Choudhary also expressed condolences, describing the incident as “extremely heartbreaking” and assuring full government support to the affected families. He said proper medical treatment arrangements have been made for those injured.

The stampede occurred during a weekly fair held at the temple, which witnessed heavy overcrowding, particularly as it coincided with a busy day for devotees. Eyewitnesses alleged inadequate police deployment and a breakdown in crowd management, which contributed to the chaos.

In the aftermath, authorities have ordered the closure of shops in the surrounding fair area to prevent further crowding and to help restore order.

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The administration continues to monitor the situation while efforts are underway to assist victims and stabilise conditions at the site.