Haridwar Stampede at Mansa Devi Temple Leaves Six Dead, Dozens Injured Amid Rumour-Induced Panic

A tragic stampede at the revered Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar on Sunday morning claimed the lives of six devotees and left at least 35 others injured. The incident occurred around 9 a.m. on the temple’s steep stairway, which was crowded with pilgrims observing the holy Shravan month.

Initial reports indicate that panic broke out after a rumour spread through the crowd that a high-voltage electric wire had snapped, creating fear of an imminent electrocution. Despite later confirmation from the electricity department that no such wire had malfunctioned or posed a threat, the fear sparked chaos on the already congested steps, leading to people falling and being trampled.

Among the deceased were 12-year-old Aarush from Bareilly, Shakal Dev (18) from Bihar, Vivek (18) and Vipin Saini (18) from Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand respectively, and an elderly woman named Shanti from Badaun. Several of the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, while those in critical condition were referred to higher medical centers.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep condolences and announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. He stated that a magisterial probe has been ordered to investigate the circumstances leading to the stampede, particularly how the rumour originated and whether crowd management protocols were properly followed.

Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey and SSP Pramendra Singh Dobal visited the site and coordinated relief operations. Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and police were deployed to manage the aftermath and restore order.

The incident has raised serious questions about safety measures at religious sites, particularly during peak pilgrimage seasons. While the Mansa Devi Temple attracts thousands of devotees daily, critics argue that infrastructure and emergency planning have not kept pace with the growing footfall.

As religious events continue during Shravan, authorities are under pressure to strengthen crowd control mechanisms and ensure such a tragedy does not repeat. The magisterial inquiry is expected to examine both administrative lapses and the response time of emergency services.