Barabanki temple stampede: Monkeys cause mayhem, 2 dead; CM Yogi expresses grief

A tragic incident unfolded at the Avsaneshwar Mahadev Temple in Barabanki of Uttar Pradesh on Monday (July 28), when monkeys pulled on a live electric wire, causing a tin shed to collapse and sparking a stampede-like situation.

The chaos resulted in the deaths of two devotees and injuries to 32 others.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday during the sacred month of Shravan, as devotees gathered for the ‘jalabhishek’ ritual, offering water to the deity.

Barabanki District Magistrate Shashank Tripathi explained that the interference by monkeys sent current through three tin sheds in the temple complex, triggering panic and leading to a stampede-like situation that claimed two lives.

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Chief Medical Officer Awadhesh Prasad told PTI, “The stampede took place between 2:30 AM and 3:00 AM last night at Awsaneshwar Mahadev Temple in Haidergarh Tehsil, 29 injured were taken to Haidergarh community health centre, 9 people were taken to Triveniganj and 6 people were taken to the health centre in Kothi. All injured are out of danger, except 2 who were declared dead.”

Of the 10 injured taken to Trivediganj Community Health Centre (CHC), five were transferred to advanced medical facilities, while 26 others are being treated at Haidergarh CHC.

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The deceased were identified as a 22-year-old Prashant from Mubarakpura village and a 30-year-old devotee.

District and police officials rushed to the temple to manage the chaotic aftermath and restore order in the surrounding areas.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed “deep sorrow” over the tragedy and offered condolences to the families of the deceased. He announced an ex gratia payment of ₹5 lakh for the bereaved families and instructed the district administration to ensure swift treatment for the injured and expedite relief efforts.

His office posted on X, “He has prayed to Lord Mahadev, the supreme deity, to grant salvation to the departed souls and a speedy recovery to the injured.”

This tragedy follows closely on the heels of another deadly stampede at Haridwar’s Mansa Devi temple, where eight people died the previous day.

That incident was triggered around 9 am by a rumour that a high-voltage live wire had fallen on a staircase passage, causing panic among a large crowd of devotees.