Mansa Devi Temple
Haridwar: In a tragic incident that marred the ongoing Shravan pilgrimage, a stampede on the stairway leading to the hilltop Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar claimed at least eight lives and left over thirty injured today morning. The incident occurred around 9 AM when panic broke out among devotees en route to the temple, triggering a sudden crowd surge on the narrow uphill passage, which is normally packed during the holy month of Sawan. Eyewitnesses stated that a rumour of a live electric wire or electrocution swept through the crowd, prompting people to push and scramble for safety, resulting in a domino effect of falls and crushing on the slope.
Initial fears suggested electrocution, but officials from the Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited and the temple management quickly denied any electrical fault. Authorities later clarified that there was no live wire or current leak, and that the stampede was likely caused by a devotee slipping on the crowded stairs, setting off a wave of panic. Among the deceased were men, women, and at least one minor, while the injured included several children. Some victims with serious injuries were rushed to AIIMS Rishikesh for advanced treatment.
Haridwar’s district administration immediately launched relief operations and cleared the route. A magisterial probe has been ordered to ascertain the exact cause of the incident and to identify possible lapses in crowd management, which had come under scrutiny during peak pilgrim flow. The temple area, usually bustling with chants and offerings, was thrown into chaos, with devotees attempting to climb over others in desperation, according to some eyewitness accounts.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the injured in hospitals, including AIIMS Rishikesh, and assured every possible support. He announced financial compensation of ₹2 lakh to the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 to each of the injured. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and leaders from across party lines also expressed grief over the tragedy, while Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called the stampede a failure of administration, urging stronger protocols for crowd control in sensitive zones.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the incident. In a post on social media platform X at 12:39 PM, the Prime Minister 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: PM @narendramodi.” The Prime Minister’s message was also shared on the official website of the Press Information Bureau.
The stampede has raised questions about preparedness during annual religious congregations at hill shrines that attract lakhs of devotees. Despite the implementation of digital darshan passes and volunteers deployed for crowd regulation, the sheer number of pilgrims during Sawan Sundays has often strained existing infrastructure. With a high-level inquiry underway, authorities have promised swift action against anyone found responsible for security or planning lapses.
– global bihari bureau
