A bustling pilgrimage at Haridwar’s revered Mansa Devi Temple turned into a scene of unimaginable tragedy when a stampede claimed the lives of six devotees and left at least two dozen others injured. The catastrophic incident, which unfolded around 9:30 AM during the sacred month of Shravan, has sent shockwaves through Uttarakhand, raising urgent concerns about safety at one of India’s holiest religious sites.
The chaos erupted when a false rumor of an electric current near the temple’s staircase sparked widespread panic among the thousands of worshippers thronging the narrow pathway to the hilltop shrine. As devotees scrambled to escape the perceived danger, the crowd surged uncontrollably, leading to a deadly crush. Haridwar Senior Superintendent of Police Pramendra Singh Dobal, speaking to PTI Videos, confirmed the grim toll: 35 individuals were rushed to nearby hospitals, with six succumbing to their injuries. The injured, many suffering from severe trauma and fractures, are receiving urgent medical care as hospitals work around the clock to stabilize them.
The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), alongside local police and fire brigade teams, descended on the scene immediately, launching a frantic rescue and relief operation. Eyewitnesses described a harrowing spectacle of chaos, with cries for help echoing as responders worked to free trapped devotees and provide first aid. The narrow staircase leading to the temple, often packed during the Shravan season, became a bottleneck that exacerbated the tragedy, highlighting the challenges of managing massive crowds at religious gatherings.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed profound grief over the incident, calling it “heart-wrenching” in a poignant Facebook post. “The news of the stampede on the way to Mansa Devi Temple is deeply distressing,” he wrote. “SDRF, local police, and other rescue teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations, and I am in constant touch with the local administration to monitor the situation closely.” Dhami extended his prayers to Mata Rani for the safety of all devotees, vowing to ensure that such a tragedy does not recur. His administration is now under pressure to investigate the circumstances that led to the disaster and to implement stricter safety measures at religious sites.
The Mansa Devi Temple, perched atop Bilwa Parvat, is a key pilgrimage destination, drawing thousands daily during Shravan to offer prayers to the goddess Mansa Devi. The temple’s cable car system, while an alternative, cannot accommodate the sheer volume of devotees, leaving the staircase as the primary access route. Sunday’s incident has exposed vulnerabilities in crowd management, particularly during peak pilgrimage seasons when Haridwar sees an influx of visitors from across India.
As rescue operations continue and families mourn their losses, the tragedy has sparked a broader conversation about the need for enhanced safety protocols at religious sites. Authorities are expected to review crowd control measures, emergency response plans, and infrastructure limitations to prevent future calamities. For now, Haridwar remains in a state of mourning, with the echoes of this devastating stampede serving as a somber reminder of the fragility of life amidst devotion.
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Stay tuned for updates as the situation develops.
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