Tragic Stampede at Mansa Devi Temple Claims Six Lives: What Happened?

Devastating Incident at Haridwar's Mansa Devi Temple

Haridwar: A tragic stampede occurred at the Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of six individuals and injuring 28 others, according to police reports.

The chaos was reportedly sparked by rumors of an electric shock at the temple's entrance, which led to widespread panic among the gathered devotees, as explained by Haridwar's Senior Superintendent of Police, Pramendra Singh Dobal.

Emergency services transported 34 individuals to a nearby hospital, where six were pronounced dead.

The incident unfolded around 9 AM, coinciding with a busy Sunday when many devotees were visiting the temple, situated over 500 feet high in the Shivalik hills.

Footage from the scene depicted a large crowd, including women and children, rushing towards the temple's narrow entrance and outside the hospital, where anxious family members awaited updates on their loved ones.

Uttarakhand's Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, announced that a magisterial inquiry has been initiated.

He stated, "The stampede at Mansa Devi temple was triggered by a rumor... We will take strict action against those responsible for spreading such misinformation," during a press briefing.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow over the tragic loss of life in the incident.

"My condolences to the bereaved families. I wish a swift recovery to the injured. The local administration is providing necessary support," he shared in a post on X.

The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and fire brigade teams have been deployed to the site.

Chief Minister Dhami also declared financial aid of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. He visited the district hospital in Haridwar to offer support to the affected families.

According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) in Dehradun, six fatalities and 28 injuries were confirmed, with five individuals transferred to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rishikesh for further treatment.

The deceased have been identified as Arush (12), Shakal Dev (18), Vicky (18), Vipin (18), Vakil, and Shanti.

Earlier, Dhami expressed his sorrow on Facebook, stating that the situation was under close observation.

"I received very sad news about the stampede near Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar. SDRF, local police, and other rescue teams are on-site conducting relief operations," he wrote.

"I am in constant communication with local authorities, and we are monitoring the situation closely. I pray for the safety of all devotees," he added.

The Mansa Devi temple, dedicated to the goddess Mansa Devi, is one of the five sacred sites known as Panch Tirthas in Haridwar.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the stampede was triggered by rumors of electric wires being exposed, as reported by District Magistrate Mayur Dikshit.

Some damaged wires were discovered at the scene, indicating that individuals may have attempted to ascend the temple stairs while holding onto them.