A stampede at a temple in eastern India's Bihar state has left at least six people dead and several others injured, Indian media reported.

The incident took place at the Ashok Dham temple in the Lakhisarai district as a swell of devotees thronged the temple to offer water to Lord Shiva on what Hindus consider an auspicious Monday of the ongoing holy month of Shravan.

Shivam Kumar, a senior police officer, told news agency ANI that an electric pole fell at the site and people were electrocuted, leading to the stampede.

"We can tell you the exact reason only after verifying everything," he added.

Lakhisarai District Magistrate Shailendra Kumar told ANI that a barricade broke because of the rush and people fell on each other.

"The crowd swelled in an unprecedented manner. Around 6:30-6:45 a.m., two trains came here that too added to the crowd. Arrangements were made as we had anticipated the crowd," Kumar said.

Injured receiving treatment

A probe is underway to determine the cause of the crush.

Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said that his government had given orders for the injured to receive swift treatment.

"The news of the deaths of devotees in the accident has left my heart deeply distressed. My deepest condolences go out to the bereaved families," he wrote in a post in Hindi on X.

In March, nine people, mostly women, were killed in a stampede at another temple in Bihar's Nalanda district.

Edited by: Natalie Muller

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