Daijiworld Media Network - Haridwar

Haridwar, Jul 27: A deadly stampede at the Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar claimed the lives of seven devotees and left dozens injured on Saturday morning, plunging the holy city into shock and grief.

The stampede, which occurred on the stairway leading to the main shrine, took place during the auspicious month of Sawan—a period that witnesses a surge in pilgrim footfall. Initial reports suggest a sudden crowd surge and panic triggered by a rumour about an “electric current” led to the tragedy.

An eyewitness, in tears, described the horror. “We had gone for darshan. The gate was shut due to the crowd. Suddenly, people started running and jumped over each other. They ran over my head and over our children. There were bodies everywhere,” she said.
Another injured devotee from Bihar said, “There was a huge crowd. Suddenly everyone started pushing and trying to get out. I fell and fractured my hand.”

Visuals from the site showed injured devotees being rushed to hospitals in ambulances, while several were seen lying unconscious on the steps. The area around the shrine witnessed chaos as officials scrambled to control the situation.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is closely monitoring the developments and has announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. “All necessary medical support is being extended to the victims,” said a government statement.

Haridwar, a major spiritual hub, sees lakhs of devotees during Sawan, including Kanwariyas who arrive to collect Ganga water. This incident has once again raised serious questions about crowd management and safety protocols at major pilgrimage centres.