Jan Suraaj convener and Bankipur MLA Prashant Kishor travelled to Lakhisarai in Bihar on Tuesday, 19 August, to meet survivors and bereaved families following the deadly stampede at the Ashok Dham temple that killed seven people and injured over a dozen on the third Monday of Sawan. Kishor's visit has sharpened political pressure on the Bihar government and district administration to move beyond compensation and fix accountability.

Kishor Meets Injured, Bereaved Families

Kishor first stopped at Lakhisarai Sadar Hospital, where he spoke with patients injured in the tragedy, enquired about their health and the treatment being administered, and wished them a speedy recovery. He subsequently drove to Pratappur village in Halsi block, where he met the families of three women who died in the incident, offered his condolences, and assured them of all possible assistance.

Several Jan Suraaj leaders and party workers accompanied him, including Ravishankar Prasad Singh and Zila Parishad member Amit Sagar, along with local residents.

Sharp Criticism of Bihar Government

After the visits, Kishor levelled pointed criticism at the state government and the district administration. He alleged that despite the gravity of the tragedy, no senior official had yet been held accountable. He claimed the administration appeared focused on settling the matter through financial compensation rather than determining responsibility.

Kishor questioned the practice of disbursing ₹4 lakh in ex-gratia payments, arguing that monetary relief cannot substitute for accountability when lives have been lost. He also noted that visits by elected representatives and ministers to affected families, while symbolically important, were insufficient without concrete administrative follow-through.

Demands Clarity on Enquiry

Kishor also raised concerns about the scope and transparency of the investigation ordered after the stampede. He acknowledged that the Commissioner and DIG had visited Lakhisarai and directed an enquiry, but said there was insufficient clarity about which officer was conducting it and what specific aspects were under examination.

He demanded that the enquiry establish who was responsible for the incident — including whether there were administrative or security lapses, which officials bore responsibility for any negligence, and what action should follow against those found culpable.

Political Dimension to Accountability Demands

Kishor's intervention has added a political dimension to what was already a sensitive law-and-order failure. This is not an isolated pattern — crowding-related tragedies at religious gatherings in Bihar and elsewhere have repeatedly exposed gaps in crowd management and pre-event safety audits. Critics argue that the cycle of compensation followed by inconclusive enquiries has done little to prevent recurrence.

With the enquiry's scope still unclear, the families of the seven victims and the injured are waiting to see whether administrative action will follow the political noise.