July 28,2025:
A tragic stampede at the Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar early Sunday morning left six devotees dead and at least a dozen others injured. The incident occurred amid heavy crowding during a religious gathering at the popular hilltop shrine, a major pilgrimage site in Uttarakhand.
According to officials, the stampede broke out around 6:45 AM when a sudden rush of pilgrims near the temple’s ropeway entry point led to panic. Witnesses said that a few people slipped on the narrow pathway, triggering a chain reaction as others stumbled and fell over them. The chaos lasted several minutes before security personnel were able to intervene.
Among the deceased are three women and two elderly devotees. The injured were rushed to Haridwar District Hospital and AIIMS Rishikesh. Three individuals are reported to be in critical condition.
The Mansa Devi Temple, situated atop the Bilwa Parvat in the Shivalik Hills, witnesses an enormous influx of pilgrims during the Hindu holy months, particularly in Sawan and Navratri. The weekend and religious significance of the day contributed to an unusually large crowd, with thousands attempting to enter the shrine early in the morning.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep sorrow over the incident and announced a compensation of ₹2 lakh for the families of those who died and ₹50,000 for the injured. “We are saddened by the tragic incident at Mansa Devi Temple. I have directed officials to conduct a high-level inquiry and ensure better crowd management protocols at all religious sites,” he said in a statement.
Local police, along with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), launched rescue operations within minutes. Officials confirmed that the crowd was dispersed and the situation brought under control by late morning.
Preliminary reports suggest serious lapses in crowd control and insufficient deployment of personnel to manage the flow of devotees. Authorities have not ruled out negligence and are reviewing CCTV footage from the site as part of the ongoing investigation.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has also been informed and is expected to support the review of safety mechanisms at pilgrimage sites across the state. Experts and religious trust members are now calling for long-term reforms, including improved queue systems, real-time monitoring, and better emergency response planning.
This stampede is the latest in a string of crowd-related tragedies at Indian pilgrimage centers, highlighting persistent safety concerns. While devotees continue to arrive at the temple, security has been tightened and additional personnel have been deployed to prevent further incidents.
As the state mourns the loss of six lives, the Haridwar tragedy serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need to modernize crowd management at major religious sites.
