Haridwar, July 27, 2025: A stampede at the Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar on Sunday morning around 9:15 AM resulted in the deaths of six people and injuries to 29 others. Authorities report that the incident occurred due to overcrowding at the temple premises.
Garhwal Division Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey stated that the stampede was triggered by a massive surge of devotees attempting to access the temple at the same time. Eyewitness Santosh Kumar said the chaos broke out when worshippers were climbing the final 25 steps toward the temple and began grabbing electric wires for support due to the crowd pressure. Some of the wires reportedly came loose, and rumors of electric shock led to panic.
However, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pramod Singh Dobal dismissed the electrocution theory, calling it a rumor. “We have no confirmation of any electrical fault or shock. The panic appears to have been caused by overcrowding alone,” he said. “We received information about 35 people being injured, of which six have unfortunately passed away. The remaining injured are undergoing treatment at local hospitals.”
The Mansa Devi Temple, situated on the Bilwa Parvat in the Shivalik Hills, is located about 3 kilometers from Har Ki Pauri. Devotees can reach it via a 1.5-kilometer uphill trek or by ropeway. Being a Sunday, the temple witnessed a much higher-than-usual number of pilgrims.
Local officials reported that the stampede occurred on the temple stairs, and the exact cause is still under investigation. Police and administrative teams arrived promptly at the scene, and relief and rescue operations were immediately launched.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said, “I am in constant contact with the officials. All necessary relief measures are being taken, and the situation is being closely monitored.”
The district administration has urged the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information. Steps are also being taken to strengthen crowd control measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
