A high-voltage power line reportedly breaks and falls onto a section of the crowd, igniting chaos among attendees.
The tragic event, which unfolded at the revered Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, has left at least six individuals dead and many others injured during a crush involving a massive gathering of devotees.
This incident occurred on a Sunday when a high-voltage electric wire reportedly fell onto a pathway, causing widespread panic among the throng of worshippers. According to local police officer Ritesh Saha, “The sight of the wire falling triggered immediate alarm, leading to a frantic rush for safety that resulted in the stampede,” as reported by The Times of India.
Uttarakhand’s senior official Vinay Shankar Pandey confirmed the fatalities, with reports indicating one individual suffered electrocution while others were casualties of the ensuing chaos. Hospital officials relayed that nearly 35 injured persons were transported to a local medical facility for treatment.
“The situation is currently stabilized,” Pandey informed The Associated Press from Haridwar. “However, the panic has led to devastating outcomes.”
Authorities have initiated an investigation to ascertain the reasons behind the power line collapse and to evaluate whether adequate crowd control measures were implemented. The temple attracts millions of visitors annually.
“It’s deeply distressing to learn about the stampede on the path to Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar,” Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami posted on X.
Tragic crowd surges at religious events are sadly not uncommon in India, where large numbers frequently gather at temples and pilgrimage sites, often overwhelming local infrastructure and security. In June, a sudden surge during a Hindu festival in Odisha resulted in a stampede that claimed three lives, while in May, a fire-walking ritual in Goa saw six fatalities due to crowd crush. Earlier this year, a catastrophic crush during the Kumbh Mela, a significant Hindu festival in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, resulted in 30 casualties.