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Time of India
27-07-2025
- Time of India
Stampede at Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar claims lives; what we know so far
Seven people lost their lives and dozens of devotees were injured in a stampede at the Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. The incident took place on the staircase along the temple path leading to the sanctum. According to police officials, panic erupted after rumours of an impending electrocution spread among the crowd, triggering the deadly rush. Haridwar SSP Parmendra Singh Dobal said, 'Prima facie, rumours of electric shock to a devotee panicked others at the spot leading to the stampede.' VIDEO | Haridwar, Uttarakhand: Stampede-like situation at Mansa Devi Temple. Injured admitted to the hospital; casualties feared. More details awaited. (Full video available on PTI Videos- ) — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 27, 2025 Mr. Dobal told PTI Videos that 35 people had been rushed to a hospital, of whom six died. Officials stated that the incident occurred around 9:30 AM. The State Disaster Response Force and fire brigade teams have been deployed to the site, they added. Read more: 10 Indian wildlife experiences that can rival international safaris According to eyewitness accounts, the chaos began when a sudden surge of devotees gathered near the temple entrance. An injured devotee while speaking to the news agency ANI, recounted how the swelling crowd led to panic. He said people started pushing in all directions, he then fell and fractured his hand while trying to get out. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Up to 70% off | Libas Purple Days Sale Libas Undo The narrow route to the temple, combined with the overwhelming number of pilgrims, created a bottleneck that quickly spiraled into a deadly crush. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the incident. In a statement, he said, 'Deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede on the route to Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected.' Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also reacted, and assured that rescue efforts were underway. 'It is extremely distressing to receive news of a stampede on the route to the Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar. @uksdrf, local police, and other rescue teams have reached the site and are engaged in relief and rescue operations,' he said on social media. Dhami added that he is in constant touch with authorities and monitoring the situation closely. Read more: Planning a short trip during the Independence Day weekend: 5 destinations to avoid strictly Mansa Devi Temple is one of Haridwar's most significant Shakti Peethas and draws lakhs of pilgrims each year. During Sawan, the numbers increase exponentially as devotees arrive from across the country, particularly the northern states. While rescue operations continue and authorities assess the scale of the tragedy, the incident has raised serious questions about crowd management during peak pilgrimage seasons. A more structured plan for handling the massive Sawan footfall is now urgently needed to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Time of India
Haridwar prepares for Kanwar Mela; 5 crore pilgrims expected
SSP Haridwar Pramendra Dobal has issued directives to begin arrangements. HARIDWAR: The police and administration in Haridwar have begun preparations for the upcoming Kanwar Mela, northern India's largest religious gathering. During the Shravan month, devotees from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab journey to Haridwar to collect sacred Ganga water. SSP Haridwar Pramendra Dobal has issued directives to begin arrangements. The Kanwar Yatra will commence on July 13 and conclude on July 23 during Maha Shivaratri. Officials anticipate around 5 crore pilgrims visiting the holy city during the 12-day Kanwar Yatra this year. The authorities plan to establish additional parking facilities for Dak Kawar. The local administration has also ordered enhanced sanitation measures to address the challenge of preventing open defecation. SSP Dobal told TOI, "Crowd and traffic management is the biggest task for us, as the number of Dak Kawariyas has been increasing continuously for the past few years. I ordered the removal of encroachment from the Kanwar route, and a parking space will be increased too.' The SSP said that last year, more than four crore Kanwariyas visited Haridwar. Haridwar Municipal Commissioner Nandan Kumar told TOI, "We will install extra public toilets on the Kanwar Yatra route and the entire Kanwar Mela area. Extra sanitation workers will be deployed for the cleanliness drive,' adding that the locals as well as the pilgrims are being encouraged to keep the Ganga and riverbanks clean.
