Haridwar: A tragic stampede at the iconic Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar on Sunday morning claimed six lives and left over two dozen devotees injured during the heavy pilgrim rush of the holy Shravan month.
According to officials, the stampede occurred around 9 a.m. on the narrow stairway leading to the hilltop temple. Panic broke out amid the dense crowd when rumours spread of an electric current running through the path, triggering chaos as worshippers rushed to flee.
“Six people have been confirmed dead and several others are being treated for serious injuries,” confirmed Vinay Shankar Pandey, Commissioner of the Garhwal Division. “The incident appears to have been triggered by a rumour, but a detailed investigation is underway.”
Eyewitnesses described a terrifying scene where a wall reportedly gave way under pressure, further exacerbating the crush. “People started shouting and pushing. Some fell, others got trampled. It was horrifying,” said one devotee who managed to escape the crowd.
The injured were immediately rushed to nearby hospitals, with critically wounded pilgrims referred to higher medical centres in Dehradun and Rishikesh.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief over the incident and directed swift relief measures. “Rescue operations are in full swing. SDRF, police, and local authorities are on the ground. I am personally monitoring the situation,” the Chief Minister said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
The Mansa Devi Temple, situated atop Bilwa Parvat, is a major pilgrimage site that witnesses lakhs of devotees during the Shravan month. Despite deployment of additional forces, authorities struggled to manage the overwhelming footfall.
This incident has once again brought to the fore concerns over crowd management at religious sites, especially during peak pilgrimage seasons. Local officials have been asked to submit a detailed report, and an inquiry committee may be set up to examine the lapses.
The state government has announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh each to the families of the deceased and free medical treatment for the injured.
As devotees continue to pour into Haridwar for the Kanwar Yatra and other Shravan rituals, the administration has appealed for calm and cooperation, urging people not to pay heed to rumours and follow official advisories.
