At least seven people lost their lives and over 50 others sustained injuries in a tragic stampede at the Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, on Saturday, local media reports.
The incident occurred on the stairway leading to the main temple when panic broke out among devotees.
Officials suspect that rumors of a possible electric shock caused widespread fear, triggering chaos in the tightly packed crowd.
The stampede unfolded during the auspicious Hindu month of Sawan, a time when the holy city sees a massive influx of pilgrims, especially Shiv devotees and Kanwariyas.
Vinay Shankar Pandey, Commissioner of Garhwal Division, confirmed that the temple had witnessed a large gathering before the incident.
Visuals from the scene showed ambulances rushing the injured to hospitals, where several people are still undergoing treatment. The total number of injuries currently stands at 55.
Haridwar SSP Pramendra Singh Dobal said six deaths were confirmed initially, while rescue efforts were launched promptly by police and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).
“The initial assessment suggests that panic over a rumored electric current led to the stampede,” he said.
One injured devotee from Bihar recounted that a sudden surge in the crowd created a bottleneck. In the resulting chaos, many fell, and he suffered a hand fracture while trying to escape. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said local police and SDRF teams are continuing relief efforts.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. “Deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede at Mansa Devi Temple. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. The local administration is providing all necessary support,” he said in a statement.
Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the tragedy as safety concerns grow ahead of more large gatherings expected during the rest of the Sawan month.
