Haridwar temple stampede leaves 6 dead, many injured; probe ordered
Rumour of an electric current where stairs to temple begin sent devotees into a panic, leading to stampede, say police; 35 people rushed to hospital
A stampede broke out at Haridwar’s hilltop Mansa Devi temple where hundreds of devotees had gathered on Sunday (July 27), killing at least six people and leaving many injured. The State Disaster Response Force and the fire brigade are at the spot.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said a magisterial probe has been ordered. “A stampede broke out at the Mansa Devi temple in the morning because of a rumour... We have ordered a magisterial probe into the incident, and those responsible for spreading the rumour will face strict action,” Dhami said.
Rumours of an “electric current” where stairs to the temple begin sent people into panic, leading to the stampede, Haridwar Senior Superintendent of Police Pramendra Singh Dobal told PTI Videos. About 35 people were rushed to hospital and six of them died, he said. The incident took place around 9 am at the temple atop the Shivalik Hills at a height of over 500 feet.
Live Updates
- 27 July 2025 12:24 PM IST
Haridwar stampede | Mega festivals and environmental strain: The case of Kumbh Mela
The Kumbh Mela, a 45-day spiritual and religious gathering that draws millions of pilgrims to the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers in Prayagraj, is an extraordinary event by any measure. Rooted deeply in the cultural and religious fabric of India, this festival represents a monumental act of faith.
Yet, beyond the spiritual euphoria lies a sobering reality: the massive environmental and logistical pressure exerted by such mega gatherings. Despite the Uttar Pradesh government's claims that infrastructure and resources were adequate to manage the influx, evidence on the ground — choked traffic, overloaded rail services, and visible ecological stress — suggests otherwise.
Read Tikender Singh Panwar's opinion piece
- 27 July 2025 12:21 PM IST
Just weeks earlier, a major stampede in Bengaluru after RCB win
The Karnataka state cabinet on July 24 gave a green signal to file a criminal case against RCB and KSCA for security lapses and negligence that led to the stampede at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The stampede killed 11 people and injured several more.
Read: Bengaluru stampede: Karnataka cabinet nod to criminal case against RCB, KSCA
The cabinet accepted the report of the Michael D Cunha Inquiry Commission regarding the tragedy that took place on June 4, a day after the IPL 2025 final. Based on the report, the cabinet has taken several important and tough decisions.
As per the commission’s recommendations, the cabinet has decided to file a criminal case against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA).
The cabinet has approved the implementation of all the recommendations made by the Michael D. Cunha Commission in its report.
- 27 July 2025 12:16 PM IST
Stampede at Mansa Devi temple: A decade of deadly crowd disasters in India
India has seen repeated crowd disasters in religious and public spaces, often due to inadequate infrastructure, poor planning, and failure to regulate footfall. Some of the deadliest incidents from the past 10 years include:
Hathras, Uttar Pradesh (July 2024): A stampede at a religious gathering led by preacher ‘Bhole Baba’ killed 121 people and injured 28. It remains one of the deadliest non-natural disasters in recent Indian history.
Vaishno Devi Shrine, Jammu (Jan 2022): On New Year’s Day, 12 pilgrims were killed in a stampede near the sanctum sanctorum. The rush was blamed on overcrowding and lack of crowd control.
Indore, Madhya Pradesh (Mar 2023): During a Ram Navami event, the collapse of a temple stepwell slab triggered a deadly crush that left 36 people dead.
Tirumala Temple, Andhra Pradesh (Jan 2025): A scuffle during the distribution of Vaikunta Darshan passes resulted in a stampede, killing six and injuring several others.
Maha Kumbh, Prayagraj (Jan 2025): Chaos during the Mauni Amavasya snan at the Sangam claimed 30 lives, as millions gathered for the holy dip.
Shirgao Temple Festival, Goa (May 2025): A firecracker misfire caused panic at the temple grounds, triggering a stampede that killed six people and left over 100 injured.
Mumbai, Maharashtra (Sep 2017): A stampede on a narrow railway footbridge at Elphinstone Road station during peak hours resulted in 23 deaths and dozens of injuries.
Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh (Jul 2015): At the Godavari Pushkaram festival, 27 devotees died in a stampede as thousands jostled for the first holy dip.
- 27 July 2025 12:09 PM IST
Watch: Tragedy strikes at Mansa Devi Temple
Tragedy struck at the Mansa Devi Temple as a stampede broke out due to an overwhelming crowd. A rumour on an electric current triggered the stampede, it is feared.
- 27 July 2025 12:04 PM IST
Haridwar stampede: PM Modi condoles death
"Deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede on the route to Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand," said a tweet from the Prime Minister's office.
"Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected," the tweet said, quoting PM Modi.
- 27 July 2025 12:01 PM IST
Watch: Haridwar stampede survivors being rushed to the hospital
The injured were rushed to the hospital following a stampede at the Mansa Devi temple.
- 27 July 2025 11:09 AM IST
Situation being monitored: Uttarakhand CM Dhami on Mansa Devi stampede
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday said he was saddened by the stampede at the Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar and asserted that the situation was being monitored.
Several people were feared dead and injured in the incident at the famed temple on Sunday morning.
"Very sad news has been received about a stampede on the way to Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar. SDRF, local police and other rescue teams have reached the spot and are engaged in relief and rescue operations," Dhami said in a post on Facebook.
"I am constantly in touch with the local administration in this regard and the situation is being constantly monitored. I pray to Mata Rani for the safety of all the devotees," he added.
