At least seven people were killed in a stampede inside the Ashokdham Shiva temple in Lakhisarai, Bihar, India, while they had gone to offer prayers on Monday. The incident occurred at about 7 a.m., and several others were injured. The death toll may rise, according to the report.

Reports said panic spread after word circulated that an electric wire was lying in the temple premises. Fearing electrocution, devotees began rushing, with people trying to move ahead of one another amid an unusually large crowd. Pushing and jostling followed, and seven people died after being trampled in the crowd.

Lakhisarai District Magistrate Shailendra Kumar told ANI that two trains carrying devotees arrived at a nearby station between 6:30 a.m. and 6:45 a.m., increasing the crowd at the temple. He said crowd-control arrangements were in place, but a barricade on one side broke during the rush. Several people were rescued quickly, though authorities could not immediately bring everyone out because of the crowd pressure. The injured were taken to Lakhisarai hospital.