Ashokdham Temple Disaster: How Two Trains and a Falling Pole Sparked Tragedy

The Ashokdham section of the Shri Indradamneshwar Mahadev temple became the scene of a deadly disaster when two trains reached the halt simultaneously on a busy Sawan Monday. The sudden arrival of the trains caused a group of youths to dash away hurriedly, knocking over a nearby electricity pole. Within seconds, a rumor that a live 11 kV line was delivering current spread through the throng, heightening the panic. The frightened devotees surged forward, leading to a lethal stampede that claimed the lives of eight women and left nine others wounded. Subsequent clarification from the district administration stated that the power had been disconnected at the time, and the pole was covered, dismissing the electric‑shock theory. Rescue teams, together with police and local volunteers, carried out emergency medical aid and began a full investigation into crowd‑control lapses.