Subhechcha Ganguly 
Tragedy struck the Avsaneshwar Mahadev Temple in Haidergarh early Monday morning during the holy Shravan month rituals, as panic ensued after monkeys reportedly pulled down a live electric wire, causing a tin shed to collapse and triggering a stampede-like situation.
Devotees had gathered for the sacred ‘jalabhishek’ ceremony when the incident unfolded between 2:30 AM and 3:00 AM. According to Barabanki District Magistrate Shashank Tripathi, the monkeys damaged an electric wire, which led to electric current flowing through three tin sheds in the temple complex. The resulting chaos caused a deadly rush that killed two devotees and left 32 others injured.
Among the deceased were 22-year-old Prashant from Mubarakpura village and a 30-year-old devotee, both of whom succumbed to their injuries at the Trivediganj Community Health Centre (CHC).
Chief Medical Officer Awadhesh Prasad confirmed that 29 injured were treated at the Haidergarh CHC, while others were rushed to health centres in Trivediganj and Kothi. He added that all injured are currently out of danger.
Following the incident, police and district officials arrived at the scene to manage the crowd and initiate relief measures.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and extended condolences to the victims’ families. He announced an ex gratia of ₹5 lakh for the kin of the deceased and ordered immediate and adequate medical attention for the injured. “He has prayed to Lord Mahadev to grant salvation to the departed souls and a swift recovery to the injured,” read a statement from his office.
The incident follows another tragedy just a day earlier, where eight devotees lost their lives in a stampede near Haridwar’s Mansa Devi temple due to a rumour about a fallen high-voltage wire, highlighting safety concerns amid religious gatherings.
