At least six people have died and several others have been injured in a stampede-like incident at a temple in India’s eastern Bihar state, police say on Monday.

The incident occurred at the Ashok Dham temple in Lakhisarai district as devotees gathered to observe a Hindu holy month.

Police suspect the incident was triggered by a falling electricity pole, which caused panic among the worshippers. Authorities are investigating the exact cause.

“It is being said that an electric pole fell there and people were electrocuted, which led to a stampede-like situation,” senior police officer Shivam Kumar told news agency ANI. “We can tell you the exact reason only after verifying everything.”

At least five people are injured in the incident, a senior official tells Reuters.

Television footage shows relatives gathering at hospitals as rescuers bring injured people in on stretchers.

The incident adds to India's long history of deadly crowd accidents at religious gatherings. At least 30 people died in a stampede at the Maha Kumbh festival in January last year, when tens of millions of people gathered to bathe in sacred waters.