At least six individuals lost their lives on Sunday in a stampede that occurred after a large gathering at the Mansa Devi temple in the northern Indian city of Haridwar, ANI reported, citing Garhwal Division Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey. The Chief Minister of India’s northern state of Uttarakhand posted on X that local police and other rescue teams have arrived at the scene and are actively engaged in relief and rescue operations.
“It is extremely distressing to hear about the stampede on the route to Mansa Devi Temple. The Uttarakhand State Disaster Response Force (UKSDRF), local police, and rescue teams are actively engaged in relief efforts. I am in constant communication with the local administration and monitoring the situation closely. I pray for the safety and well-being of all devotees,” CM Dhami stated. The injured have been transported to the local hospital, the ANI report added.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pramendra Singh Dobal informed local media that the police promptly reached the site and initiated rescue operations. Preliminary investigations suggest that the panic was triggered by rumors of an electric current, which subsequently led to the chaos.
India has a history of crowd-related incidents. In January, at least 30 people died at the Maha Kumbh Hindu festival as tens of millions gathered to take dips in sacred waters. More recently, in June, at least 11 people died in crowd chaos outside an Indian cricket stadium.
