Modi announces ₹2 lakh ex-gratia for Lakhisarai, Birbhum tragedy victims
Synopsis
Two tragedies on the same Monday — a Sawan stampede at Bihar's Ashok Dham temple and a pre-dawn hotel fire near West Bengal's Tarapith — each claimed seven lives. PM Modi announced ₹2 lakh PMNRF relief for both, while Birbhum police arrested the hotel owner and opened a probe into locked fire exits and non-compliant safety systems.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi announced ₹2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each victim in both the Lakhisarai stampede and the Birbhum hotel fire.
The injured in both incidents will receive ₹50,000 each from the fund.
At least 7 people were killed and a dozen injured in the Ashok Dham temple stampede in Lakhisarai, Bihar during Sawan .
A fire at the Bideshini hotel near Tarapith, Birbhum also killed 7 people ; hotel owner Kalyan Paul has been arrested.
Police are investigating whether the hotel's fire safety systems were functional and whether a rear exit was locked at the time of the fire.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, 17 August announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each person killed in twin tragedies — a temple stampede in Lakhisarai, Bihar, and a hotel fire in Birbhum, West Bengal. The injured in both incidents will receive ₹50,000 each from the fund.
The Lakhisarai Stampede
At least seven people were killed and a dozen others injured in a stampede at the Ashok Dham temple in Lakhisarai on Monday. The tragedy unfolded as a large number of devotees had gathered to offer prayers and perform rituals on the third Monday of the holy month of Sawan — a period that traditionally sees massive footfall at Shiva temples across the country. The sudden surge triggered chaos on the temple premises.
Prime Minister Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives. 'Pained by the loss of lives due to a stampede in Lakhisarai, Bihar. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. May the injured recover at the earliest. The local administration is assisting those affected,' he said in a post on X.
The Birbhum Hotel Fire
In Birbhum district of West Bengal, a fire broke out at the Bideshini hotel near Tarapith at around 5 am on Monday. The blaze, which the fire department initially attributed to a short circuit, originated on the first floor and partially spread to the second floor before being contained. Smoke, however, rose as high as the fifth floor. The death toll rose to seven, confirmed police.
Birbhum District Police Superintendent Vidit Raj Bundesh confirmed the toll and announced the arrest of Kalyan Paul, the owner of the hotel. Authorities are investigating whether the building's firefighting system was operational and whether fire safety norms were followed.
Several residents alleged that a rear exit door of the hotel was locked, trapping them inside. Paul, however, claimed that panic caused guests to miss the exit and rush toward the reception instead, where many suffered burn injuries. Investigators are probing both the residents' account and Paul's counterclaim.
Centre's Relief Announcement
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) announced the PMNRF relief separately for both incidents. For Lakhisarai, the PMO confirmed ₹2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. An identical package was announced for the victims of the Birbhum hotel fire.
What Happens Next
Police in Birbhum are continuing their investigation into fire safety compliance at the hotel, including the status of firefighting equipment and the disputed rear exit. The local administration in Lakhisarai is assisting families of the stampede victims. Both incidents are likely to renew calls for stricter crowd management protocols at religious sites during peak festival seasons and tighter enforcement of fire safety codes at commercial establishments.
Point of View
The other by alleged fire safety violations at a commercial property — expose systemic gaps that PMNRF cheques cannot fix. The Lakhisarai stampede fits a grim pattern: Sawan Mondays consistently draw crowds that outpace local administration capacity, yet crowd-control infrastructure at smaller temple towns rarely improves between tragedies. In Birbhum, the contested rear exit narrative points to a familiar failure — fire safety audits that exist on paper but not in practice. Relief announcements are necessary; they are not sufficient.
NationPress
17 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What ex-gratia did PM Modi announce for the Lakhisarai and Birbhum victims?
PM Modi announced ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each person killed in both the Lakhisarai temple stampede in Bihar and the Birbhum hotel fire in West Bengal. Those injured in either incident will receive ₹50,000 each.
What happened at the Ashok Dham temple in Lakhisarai?
A stampede at the Ashok Dham temple in Lakhisarai, Bihar, killed at least seven people and injured a dozen others on Monday. The incident occurred as a large crowd of devotees gathered to offer prayers on the third Monday of the holy month of Sawan, a peak period for temple visits.
What caused the Birbhum hotel fire and who has been arrested?
A fire broke out at the Bideshini hotel near Tarapith in Birbhum, West Bengal, at around 5 am on Monday, killing seven people. The fire department's initial assessment points to a short circuit as the cause. Hotel owner Kalyan Paul has been arrested, and police are investigating whether fire safety norms were followed and whether a rear exit was locked during the blaze.
Why are residents alleging the hotel exit was locked?
Several hotel residents told police that a rear exit door was closed during the fire, preventing them from escaping. Owner Kalyan Paul has disputed this, claiming panic caused guests to overlook the exit. The investigating officer is probing both accounts to establish what actually happened.
What is the PMNRF and how does it work?
The Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) is a fund used to provide immediate relief to families affected by natural and man-made disasters, including floods, cyclones, accidents, and fires. The Prime Minister's Office announces disbursements directly to the next of kin of victims and to the injured.
