• Source:JND
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Barabanki's Awshaneshwar Mahadev Temple: A stampede-like situation unfolded early Monday morning outside the Awshaneshwar Mahadev Temple in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki, leaving two people dead and 32 injured. The chaos erupted after a live electric wire fell onto a tin shed under which hundreds of devotees had gathered for darshan during the auspicious third Monday of the Sawan month. UP CM Yogi Adityanath announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakhs for the bereaved families.

The incident occurred around 2 am, during the midnight Jalabhishek ritual. Thousands had assembled at the ancient temple to offer prayers when an overhead power line, reportedly damaged by a troop of monkeys, snapped and landed on the metal structure. The shed instantly became electrified, sending waves of panic through the crowd.

Prashant (22) from the Mubarakpura village under the Lonikatra police station area and another 30-year-old devotee succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment at the Trivediganj Community Health Centre (CHC), officials told PTI.

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath took cognisance of and has expressed condolences to the bereaved families. The Chief Minister directed the officers to immediately reach the spot and expedite the relief work. The Chief Minister gave instructions for the proper treatment of the injured.

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Screams and confusion spread rapidly as people, many of whom had been waiting for hours, tried to escape the danger. In the chaos, two devotees tragically lost their lives. "Devotees had gathered here for darshan on the third Monday of Sawan. Some monkeys jumped onto the overhead electric wires, causing them to fall onto the tin shed. As a result, around 19 people received electric shocks; the condition of two is critical. The situation is otherwise under control...," said District Magistrate Shashank Tripathi.

Local officials confirmed that 29 people suffered injuries, with at least ten being rushed to the Trivediganj Community Health Centre (CHC). Five of the critically injured were referred to a more advanced medical facility for further treatment as per News18.

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Tripathi explained that the mishap occurred due to an aging electrical line that had been compromised by the monkeys' movement. “The affected devotees came into contact with the live wire,” he said, noting that medical support was promptly dispatched and the injured were receiving appropriate care.

This comes a day after eight people were killed in a stampede that broke out during a rush of pilgrims along a stair route leading to the Mansa Devi temple on a hilltop in Haridwar. Rumours of an electric current where the stairs begin triggered panic among people, leading to the stampede, according to the police.

A total of 10 injured persons were brought to Trivediganj CHC, of whom five were referred to higher medical centres due to their critical condition.

Meanwhile, 26 injured devotees are being treated at the Haidergarh CHC, and one of them has been referred for advanced care due to serious injuries.

WITH PTI INPUTS