A stampede at the famous Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, led to the death of eight people and injured around 30 others on Sunday morning (July 27, 2025). The tragic incident happened around 9 a.m. when a huge crowd had gathered at the temple during a special occasion.

According to officials, the stampede began after a rumour spread among the devotees that an electric line had snapped, creating panic. The temple is located at a height of 1,770 feet above sea level on the Sivalik Hills, and many people had taken the stairway route to reach the top.

People who died in the incident were from different states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Uttarakhand. They were aged between 12 and 60 years.

Panic and chaos at the temple

Soon after the incident, heartbreaking videos started circulating on social media. One video showed a tightly packed crowd stuck between barricades, with people gasping for breath and carrying children in their arms. There was no space to move. Many devotees were seen shouting for help as the crowd kept growing from all sides.

In the chaos, some people tried to climb the wall next to the stairway to escape, while others were pushed and stepped on in the rush. Items like slippers, Puja materials, and clothes were found scattered around the temple after the administration cleared the area and rescued the people.

Senior Superintendent of Police Pramendra Singh Dobal said that police teams and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were immediately sent to the spot. The rescue operation continued for several hours.

Leaders express grief; a probe is ordered

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed sadness over the incident. He wrote on X, “The news of a stampede at Haridwar’s Mansa Devi temple is extremely saddening. SDRF, local police, and other rescue teams are on-site and engaged in relief and rescue operations. I am in constant touch with the local administration and closely monitoring the situation. I pray to Mata Rani for the well-being of all devotees.” He also visited the hospital to meet the injured and assured them of full support from the government.

The Chief Minister announced ₹2 lakh as ex-gratia to the families of those who died and ₹50,000 to each injured person.

Ravindra Puri, president of the Mansa Devi temple trust, also announced ₹5 lakh compensation for the families of the deceased and ₹1 lakh for those who were injured.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also posted on X, saying, “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.”

Haridwar District Magistrate Mayur Dixit has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident. The investigation will be led by a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), and the report is to be submitted within 15 days.

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