Haridwar Mansa Devi Stampede: 8 Dead, Probe Ordered

8 people were killed and around 30 injured in a stampede that took place on Sunday morning at the Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. The incident occurred at about 9:00 a.m. when a large crowd of devotees was climbing the steep, narrow stairway—consisting of nearly 800 steps—leading to the hilltop shrine, one of Uttarakhand’s busiest pilgrimage sites.

The stampede was reportedly triggered by a rumor that an electric current or a high-voltage live wire had fallen near the temple pathway, causing panic among the gathered devotees. This misinformation led to sudden pushing and shoving as people tried to flee the perceived danger. Videos from the site showed a massive crowd, including women and children, surging toward the temple’s narrow entrance, causing chaos and bottlenecks on the stairway.

Among the deceased were children and adults from various parts of northern India, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Uttarakhand. Several injured were hospitalized, with some in critical condition. Rescue efforts were led by the State Disaster Response Force and local police, with injured devotees taken to district hospitals and AIIMS Rishikesh for treatment.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami issued a magisterial probe into the circumstances leading to the tragedy and vowed strict action against those found responsible for spreading the rumor that caused panic. The Chief Minister also visited the hospital to meet with the injured and assured families of government support. Financial assistance was announced for the victims’ families—Rs 2 lakh for the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured.

Officials highlighted that the temple has three routes — a ropeway, a vehicular road, and an ancient stair route from Har Ki Pauri — and the stampede occurred on the stairway route. Despite police efforts to control the crowd by putting up barricades, the dense assembly and slippery conditions contributed to the disaster. Witnesses said that once the panic started, people lost balance and fell, leading to many being trampled in the congested space. Footwear and other belongings were found scattered at the scene.

This tragic event underscores the challenges of managing large crowds in popular pilgrimage sites, especially on narrow, steep pathways during peak times such as weekends or religious months. The spread of unverified rumors can cause sudden panic leading to catastrophic outcomes in crowded places. Emergency response and crowd control at such sites need continuous improvement, including better communication, real-time monitoring of crowd density, and rapid rumor control mechanisms.

Experts and officials may look into infrastructure upgrades, such as widening pathways, improving signage, and deploying more trained crowd management personnel during busy days. Additionally, public awareness campaigns could help educate visitors on staying calm and following instructions during emergencies.

This incident should serve as a reminder to authorities and temple management committees nationwide about the importance of safety measures and preparedness to prevent similar tragedies. While faith and devotion bring many together, safety must remain a priority to protect lives during such mass gatherings.

In conclusion, the Haridwar stampede is a deeply saddening event caused by panic triggered by misinformation in a densely crowded pilgrim route. The government’s swift response and ongoing investigation aim to bring accountability and recommendations to avoid recurrence. For the families and communities affected, the tragedy is a grave loss, and it also stresses the need for greater vigilance and safety in public pilgrimage sites.

With inputs from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies