At least six devotees lost their lives and more than 25 others were injured in a tragic stampede at the Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, on Sunday. The incident occurred when a large crowd gathered on the stairway leading to the revered hilltop shrine, resulting in chaos and panic among the pilgrims.
Confirming the incident, Garhwal Division Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey stated, “Six people have died in a stampede after a huge crowd gathered at the Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar. I am leaving for the spot. A detailed report of the incident is awaited.” The stampede unfolded as an overwhelming number of devotees thronged the temple, causing congestion on the narrow stairway route. As soon as reports of the incident emerged, police and administrative teams were dispatched to the scene to manage the situation and initiate rescue efforts.
Emergency services, including the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local police, are conducting rescue and relief operations at the site. Authorities are working to identify the victims and provide medical assistance to the injured. According to officials, five of the injured have been shifted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for advanced treatment.
An eyewitness named Bunty reported that the panic may have been triggered by an electric current felt near a pole close to the temple. “There was a pole near the temple where people said they felt an electric current. That’s when people started panicking and a stampede followed,” he said. However, local police have ruled out electrocution as the cause of the stampede, stating that preliminary investigations did not confirm any electrical fault.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his deep sorrow over the incident. In a post on social media platform X, he wrote, “The news of a stampede at Haridwar’s Mansa Devi temple is extremely saddening. SDRF, local police and other rescue teams are on-site and engaged in relief and rescue operations.” He further added, “I am in constant touch with the local administration and closely monitoring the situation. I pray to Mata Rani for the well-being of all devotees.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed his condolences to the affected families. In a statement, he said, “Deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede on the route to Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected.”
The tragic incident has cast a shadow over the pilgrimage, raising questions about crowd control measures and infrastructure readiness at major religious sites, particularly during high-footfall days. Authorities are expected to launch a thorough investigation into the causes of the stampede and review safety protocols at the temple premises.
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