AT LEAST six people died and several others were injured in a stampede at the Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, on Sunday (27) morning. The tragedy occurred around 9am (local time) when panic spread among devotees after a rumour of an electric current near the temple stairs caused chaos.
India's prime minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the incident. In a post on social media platform X, 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 stampede happened on the stairway leading up to the popular hilltop temple, which is one of Haridwar’s five sacred sites known as Panch Tirthas.
Located over 500 feet above sea level on the Shivalik Hills, the Mansa Devi temple attracts thousands of pilgrims every day, especially on weekends and during festive periods.
According to Haridwar senior superintendent of police Pramendra Singh Dobal, the panic was caused by a false rumour that electric current had spread through the area near the temple entrance.
"Around 35 people were taken to hospital and six of them died. More than 10 are still under treatment,” he said.
Visuals from the site showed anxious family members waiting outside the hospital, seeking information about their loved ones. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and fire services were quickly deployed to assist with rescue efforts.
Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami confirmed that a magisterial inquiry had been ordered. "A stampede broke out at the Mansa Devi temple in the morning because of a rumour. We have ordered a magisterial probe into the incident and those responsible for spreading the rumour will face strict action," he said.
Uttarakhand Minister Ganesh Joshi, in red shirt, meets an injured lady undergoing treatment at a hospital after a stampede broke out at Mansa Devi temple, in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, Sunday, July 27, 2025. (PTI Photo)
In a post on Facebook, Dhami also shared his condolences and assured that relief operations were ongoing. “SDRF, local police and other rescue teams have reached the spot and are engaged in relief and rescue operations. I am constantly in touch with the local administration and the situation is being closely monitored. I pray to Mata Rani for the safety of all the devotees,” he said.
Stampedes at religious gatherings are, unfortunately, not uncommon in India. In recent months, similar incidents have claimed lives in Odisha, Goa, and Prayagraj. Experts have often pointed to poor crowd management and lack of infrastructure at pilgrimage sites as major factors behind such accidents.
As investigations begin, officials have urged pilgrims to stay calm and cooperate with the administration. Security and crowd control measures around the temple have since been stepped up to prevent further incidents.
(Agencies)
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