Stampede at Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar Kills at Least 6, Injures Over 50 During Pilgrimage Rush

Stampede at Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar Kills at Least 6, Injures Over 50 During Pilgrimage Rush
[Haridwar, Uttarakhand | 27 July 2025] — At least six Hindu pilgrims were killed and more than 50 injured in a tragic stampede on Sunday at the popular Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar, located in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand.

According to eyewitnesses, panic erupted suddenly amid a dense crowd when a high-voltage electric wire reportedly snapped and fell onto the pathway leading to the temple. The shocking sight caused widespread fear, triggering chaos and a frantic stampede as people rushed to escape what they thought was an explosion or a major electrocution incident.

Ritesh Saha, a police officer in Haridwar, told The Times of India, “The wire falling sparked panic. Many thought it was a blast or a massive electrical failure, and in that confusion, the crowd began running in all directions.”

Vinay Shankar Pandey, a senior Uttarakhand government official, confirmed, “One person was electrocuted directly, while five others died due to the stampede.” At least 35 of the injured have been admitted to nearby hospitals, several of whom are in critical condition.

Rescue personnel and police arrived swiftly on the scene to carry out emergency operations. The temple premises have been temporarily closed to the public.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his condolences in a post on X (formerly Twitter): “The reports of the stampede on the way to Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar are heartbreaking. My deepest sympathies to the families of the deceased, and I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.”

He further stated that a high-level investigation has been ordered to determine the exact cause of the accident, including how the electric wire fell.

Stampedes caused by overcrowding at religious gatherings are not uncommon in India. In June, three people died during a festival in Odisha, and in May, six people were killed in a fire-walking ritual in Goa. In January, a dawn stampede at the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj claimed the lives of at least 30 pilgrims.

The Mansa Devi Temple attracts millions of devotees annually. This tragic incident once again highlights the critical shortcomings in crowd control and public safety infrastructure during large-scale religious events in India.