6 Dead, Over 25 Injured in Stampede at Haridwar’s Mansa Devi Temple
A stampede at the crowded Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, on Sunday morning left at least six people dead and more than 25 injured. The tragedy unfolded when a massive number of devotees gathered on the narrow staircase leading to the popular hilltop shrine, causing chaos and panic among the pilgrims.
The incident occurred as a large influx of devotees visited the temple. The narrow path leading to the shrine was overwhelmed by the crowd, leading to the deadly stampede. Police and administrative teams, including the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), were rushed to the site to begin rescue and relief operations.
Garhwal Division Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey confirmed the death toll, stating, “Six people have died in a stampede after a huge crowd gathered at the Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar”. Authorities are in the process of identifying the victims as the injured are being transported to nearby hospitals. While there were initial reports of a possible electrocution, officials have denied this, asserting that the sheer volume of the crowd was the cause.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his sorrow over the incident. “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 posted on X, formerly Twitter. He added that he is in constant contact with the local administration to monitor the situation closely.
Visuals from the scene showed a chaotic environment, with ambulances rushing the injured for medical attention. The administration is reportedly using the temple’s ropeway in addition to the footpath to aid rescue efforts. Some reports suggest the local administration may have been unprepared for the size of the crowd that gathered at the temple.
