How Monkeys Triggered Stampede At Barabanki Temple During Shravan Somvaar Ritual
The tragedy struck around 2:30 am as thousands of devotees thronged the temple in Haidergarh for Jalabhishek, the ritual of offering water to Lord Shiva during Shravan
2 Dead, Over 40 Injured: How Monkeys, Shravan Somvaar Rush Sparked Off Stampede At Barabanki Temple
Hymns and chants meant to please the almighty on the third Monday of the holy month of Shravan turned into shrieks and pain when a high-tension wire snapped from a pole and fell onto a tin shed at the Awsaneshwar Mahadev temple in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
The sudden electric shock ran across the temple premises, sparking chaos and a stampede that left two devotees dead and more than 40 injured.
Holy ritual turns tragic
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 third Monday of the month is considered especially 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 Arjun Kumar, a devotee recovering at the Haidergarh Community Health Centre, told News18.
The spark that triggered the stampede
District Magistrate Shashank Tripathi said the 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. This caused a sudden electric shock, and in panic, devotees began running, leading to a stampede," he explained.
The deadly combination of electrocution and a rush to escape worsened the situation. 'Two people lost their lives, and more than 40 sustained injuries in the incident," Tripathi confirmed. The deceased were identified as Ramesh Kumar, 35, and Prashant Kumar, 16.
Panic and desperation
Eyewitnesses recalled the chaos vividly. 'We were in a long queue when suddenly the shed above us sparked. I felt a jolt and saw people screaming and falling. My sister was electrocuted, and my aunt collapsed," said Shalini Devi, another eyewitness who is still recuperating from the trauma.
Ramesh's brother, Moolchand, alleged negligence, claiming devotees had earlier warned police about smoke from the wire. 'We requested them to fix it, but they brushed it aside saying it was due to overloading. Hours later, that very wire snapped and killed my brother," he said.
At the district hospital, the mother of 12-year-old Palak, one of the injured, pleaded with folded hands before the Chief Medical Officer. 'Sahab, please treat my daughter well. That is all we ask," she said, underscoring the anguish gripping the families.
Barabanki electrocution incident | UP CM Yogi Adityanath announces an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakhs for the bereaved families: CMOSo far, two people have lost their lives in the electrocution incident at the Awsaneshwar Temple, Barabanki, which took place earlier today at 2 am https://t.co/XvGDp9cWA0
— ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2025
Rescue and medical response
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Awadhesh Yadav said 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 on arrival. The total number of injured exceeds 40," he said.
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," Yadav added.
Call for action
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed deep sorrow over the incident, offering condolences to the bereaved families and announcing financial aid of Rs 5 lakh each for the kin of the deceased. He directed officials to ensure proper treatment for the injured and ordered a swift inquiry.
'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.
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya termed the tragedy 'deeply unfortunate" and urged stronger safety measures at temples. 'Yesterday, a tragedy struck at Haridwar's Mansa Devi temple. Today, Barabanki has witnessed one. Faith and devotion are drawing larger crowds, but arrangements must be scaled up accordingly," he said.
A grim pattern
The Barabanki mishap follows closely on the heels of the stampede at Haridwar's Mansa Devi temple on Sunday morning, where eight devotees died and more than 30 were injured. The back-to-back accidents have triggered alarm over crowd management and safety infrastructure at major shrines, particularly during the Shravan month, when footfall multiplies several times.
Experts point out that high-voltage power lines near temple premises and poorly maintained electrical systems pose serious risks, especially when large crowds are gathered. Residents and devotees have demanded permanent corrective measures, including underground wiring and better crowd control mechanisms.
#WATCH | Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh | Barabanki DM Shashank Tripathi says, 'Devotees came to Ausaneshwar Mahadev temple to offer prayers on Monday of the 'saavan' month. The electric wire broke and fell on the shed. Around 19 people were injured by electric shock. The injured were… pic.twitter.com/Vitn7dzVih — ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2025
Temple authorities react
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 a.m. 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.
However, many locals feel the risk could have been mitigated had authorities taken precautionary steps in advance.
Dawn after the disaster
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As daylight broke over Barabanki, the temple premises bore signs of the night's horror—discarded slippers, broken bangles, and half-spilled offerings littered the ground. Grieving families mourned the dead, while authorities conducted inspections.
An official inquiry has been ordered to ascertain lapses and prevent a recurrence. But for families like that of Ramesh and Prashant, the inquiry offers little solace. Their night of devotion and faith ended in a devastating loss, underscoring the thin line between celebration and catastrophe when safety is compromised.
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First Published:
July 28, 2025, 12:45 IST
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