Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday criticised the handling of the stampede at the Shitala Mata Temple in Bihar’s Nalanda district, where eight women lost their lives, and several others were injured. Expressing deep sorrow over the incident, he extended condolences to the bereaved families and described the tragedy as extremely distressing.
He also pointed to what he described as serious administrative lapses, stating that emergency response mechanisms were inadequate. According to him, ambulances did not reach the site in time, and there was a clear lack of crowd management arrangements, which worsened the situation. He emphasised that authorities across the country must exercise greater caution and preparedness, especially at religious gatherings that attract large crowds.
The incident took place during a religious event on Tuesday morning, when a sudden surge of devotees led to overcrowding and panic. Eyewitness accounts indicated that the situation escalated quickly as people rushed to gain entry for darshan, resulting in several individuals being trampled. The temple typically sees heavy footfall every Tuesday, but the turnout was significantly higher due to it being the last Tuesday of the Chaitra month.
Visuals from the scene showed chaotic conditions, with many devotees, most of them women, lying unconscious as rescue teams and local authorities carried out relief operations. In response, the Bihar government has ordered a detailed inquiry into the incident and suspended the officer in charge of the local police station, while directing officials to ensure proper medical care for the injured and restore order.
At the same time, the Aam Aadmi Party intensified its criticism of the central government over the ongoing fuel situation linked to the Middle East conflict. The party alleged that disruptions in fuel supply, particularly LPG and petrol, have created widespread difficulties across the country, affecting both households and industries.
In its remarks, the party claimed that long queues at fuel stations and delays in LPG availability reflected mismanagement at the national level. It further argued that despite assurances from the central leadership that the situation was under control, the ground reality suggested otherwise, with people struggling to access essential fuel supplies.
The party also linked the issue to foreign policy challenges, asserting that inadequate handling of global developments had contributed to the current strain on fuel availability. Through its statements and social media posts, it sought to highlight the gap between official claims and the experiences reported by citizens in different parts of the country.
