Eight Killed, 30 Injured In Stampede At Mansa Devi Temple In Haridwar

Eight devotees died and 30 others were injured in a stampede at the Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar on Sunday morning, after panic broke out due to a rumour that an electric current was running through a section of the stairway leading to the hilltop shrine. The incident occurred around 9 a.m., when the temple was crowded with pilgrims, many of whom had arrived for rituals associated with the ongoing Shravan month.

The temple is located on Bilwa Parvat, part of the Shivalik hills, and is accessed through a narrow stairway that winds up over 500 feet from the base. According to Haridwar Senior Superintendent of Police Pramendra Singh Dobal, the stampede appears to have been triggered after someone in the crowd shouted that a wire near the lower part of the stair route had become live. The exact source of the rumour remains under investigation.

Witnesses said that people already climbing up began turning back in fear, while others behind continued to push forward. “People coming down clashed with those trying to go up. The passage is very narrow, and soon there was no space to move. People started falling,” said Nirmala, a pilgrim from Saharanpur who was injured in the crush and admitted to the district hospital.

A large number of families were present at the time of the incident. Footage recorded on mobile phones showed men and women struggling to stay upright, with some lifting children above their heads to protect them from being trampled. In the chaos, some devotees fell into the adjacent drain or into the thick bushes along the stair path. Police and SDRF teams continued search operations into the afternoon to check for any victims who might have been missed in the immediate response.

Doctors at Haridwar district hospital and AIIMS Rishikesh confirmed that all eight deaths were caused by chest and lung trauma associated with being crushed. None of the victims showed signs of electric burns or electrocution, ruling out the initial rumour as the cause of death.

Among those who died was six-year-old Arush from Rampur, Uttar Pradesh. He had come to the temple with his family for his mundan ceremony. His aunt and younger cousin were also injured and are receiving treatment at AIIMS Rishikesh. Eighteen-year-olds Vipin Saini from Bijnor, Shakal Dev from Sitapur, and Vicky from Lakhimpur Kheri, all from Uttar Pradesh, were also killed. Vishal, 19, from Saharanpur, Vakil, 43, from Patna, Shanti, 60, from Pauri Garhwal, and Ram Bharose, 65, from Bareilly were also among the dead.

According to officials, several other injured devotees who were treated with first aid and discharged are not included in the official injury count of 30. Five critically injured patients were transferred to AIIMS Rishikesh. Hospital staff said most injuries were related to rib fractures, breathing difficulties and contusions from being stepped on or pinned.

CM Orders Probe, Announces Compensation; Crowd Control Measures Under Scrutiny

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited Haridwar later in the day and met some of the injured at the district hospital. He announced a magisterial inquiry into the stampede, stating, “A rumour caused panic, which led to this tragic incident. We have asked for a detailed probe, and action will be taken against those responsible for spreading misinformation.” The inquiry will be conducted by the Additional District Magistrate of Haridwar, with a report expected within 15 days. The Chief Minister also said the final report would include recommendations on improving crowd safety at religious sites.

He announced financial compensation of ₹2 lakh each for the families of those killed and ₹50,000 for the injured. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the Centre had reached out to the state government and offered assistance if required.

Several local residents and shopkeepers near the temple criticised the administration for not anticipating the weekend rush, especially during Shravan, when the number of pilgrims increases sharply. “There were no loudspeakers. No one to guide people when the panic started,” said Rakesh, who runs a tea stall at the base of the hill. “This temple gets crowded every Sunday. This wasn’t a surprise.”

Home Secretary Radhika Jha said that the stairway route had been temporarily closed about half an hour before the incident due to concerns about crowding, but by then, many devotees had already gathered near the middle section of the path. “The route closure may have limited further pressure from behind, but the situation had already escalated,” she said.

Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey said the administration’s current focus is on recovery and providing support to the families. “Medical teams are attending to the injured. Our rescue teams are checking every part of the route to make sure no one is left behind,” he said. Police personnel, SDRF units, and local volunteers were deployed across the stairway and nearby forested areas to assist in rescue efforts.

The Mansa Devi temple, dedicated to the goddess Mansa, is a major pilgrimage site and is considered one of the five sacred Panch Tirtha in Haridwar. On most weekends and during the monsoon religious calendar, the temple draws thousands of visitors. While a ropeway system exists as an alternative route, many pilgrims prefer the stair path for religious reasons.

Following the incident, temple access was restricted for several hours. Darshan resumed in a limited capacity by evening, with the police continuing to monitor the stairway route. No arrests have been made in connection with the origin of the rumour, but authorities said they are examining phone videos, crowd footage, and possible short circuit triggers that may have sparked the panic.

President Droupadi Murmu issued a statement expressing condolences to the families of the deceased. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also shared his sympathies and said the administration was providing assistance to the injured.