A tragic incident unfolded at the revered Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar, where a stampede on the stairway leading to the shrine resulted in the deaths of at least six individuals and left over 25 others injured. The unfortunate event took place on a busy Sunday when thousands of devotees had gathered at the temple. According to early reports, panic spread rapidly through the dense crowd, likely due to fears of an electric current near the temple premises. This sudden panic led to chaos and a deadly stampede as worshippers pushed and jostled in all directions.
Garhwal Division Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey confirmed the tragic loss of lives and announced that he was personally heading to the site to oversee the situation. He stated that a thorough investigation into the cause of the incident was underway and that a full report would be released after the preliminary findings were examined. Immediately after reports of the stampede reached the authorities, police forces and rescue teams rushed to the location to control the situation and offer medical assistance to those injured.
A video circulating online captured the panic-stricken moments, showing a massive crowd of devotees struggling to move amid the tight and chaotic space. Voices in the video can be heard pleading with people to step back, as some individuals fell or were caught in the crush. Eyewitness accounts, including one from a man named Bunty, suggested that devotees felt an electric current from a pole near the temple, which triggered widespread fear and confusion. However, police officials have since dismissed electrocution as the cause of the stampede, and investigations are ongoing to determine the actual trigger.
Rescue and medical efforts were swiftly initiated. The injured were promptly taken to nearby hospitals, with five being admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for further treatment. Meanwhile, the local administration set up control rooms and issued helpline numbers (+91 94111 12973 and +91 95206 25934) to help families inquire about their loved ones or seek updated information on the ground situation.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed profound sorrow over the incident, describing it as extremely distressing. He assured the public that State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams, local police, and rescue workers were actively engaged in relief operations. The Chief Minister stated that he was in continuous contact with the district administration and was closely monitoring the developments. He also offered prayers for the safety and speedy recovery of all affected devotees.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his condolences, expressing deep anguish over the loss of lives. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), the Prime Minister assured that the local administration was providing all necessary assistance to those impacted by the tragedy. He offered words of comfort to grieving families and wished a swift recovery to the injured, emphasizing that the government stood firmly with the victims during this difficult time.
