A tragic stampede at the Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar on Sunday, July 27, 2025, has resulted in the deaths of at least six devotees and left dozens injured. The incident occurred around 9 a.m. on the stairway leading to the hilltop shrine, which was crowded with pilgrims during the holy month of Sawan.

Initial reports suggested that the stampede was triggered by a rumor of a snapped electric wire. According to Senior Superintendent of Police Pramendra Singh Dobal, panic spread through the crowd after someone shouted about an electric current running through the staircase. This sparked a desperate rush to escape, leading to people falling and being trampled. A local police official, Ritesh Saha, told The Times of India that "The sight of the wire falling caused immediate panic, and a desperate scramble to escape led to the stampede".

However, officials from the Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) later stated that there was no evidence of any electrical fault or leakage in the temple premises. UPCL personnel conducted inspections and found no leakage of electric current. They also confirmed that the low-tension lines carrying power were fully insulated. According to UPCL, the incident likely occurred due to the heavy and uncontrolled crowd. Haridwar district magistrate Mayur Dixit also confirmed that initial investigations and eyewitness accounts revealed no electric current at the site, suggesting the stampede was triggered by a rumor.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and desperation. One eyewitness recounted that people were "jumping over each other" and "ran over children" in an attempt to escape the crush. Another injured devotee from Bihar stated that a huge crowd had suddenly gathered, and people fell while trying to run. A video circulating online showed a man frantically yelling "peeche jaao (go back)" in an attempt to control the surging crowd.

The narrowness of the path leading to the temple, accessible only by foot or cable car, and a boundary wall near the path are believed to have contributed to the stampede. A local priest, Ujjwal Pandit, noted that the path's narrowness and the wall worsened the bottleneck. Eyewitnesses also pointed out the lack of clear entry and exit points, insufficient police presence, and the absence of crowd marshals.

Rescue operations were quickly launched by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local police, and administrative teams. Injured devotees, numbering between 28 and 35, were rushed to nearby hospitals, including GD Hospital, with five reported to be in critical condition and referred to AIIMS Rishikesh.

Following the tragedy, leaders across the country expressed their condolences. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami offered their support to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. The state government has announced a compensation of INR 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and INR 50,000 for those injured.

The Uttarakhand government has ordered a magisterial inquiry to investigate the cause of the stampede and identify any lapses in crowd control and temple management. Chief Minister Dhami has directed a thorough review of security and crowd management measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. Authorities have also begun reviewing existing crowd control and safety protocols at pilgrimage sites. Additional police forces have been deployed at other major pilgrimage sites across the state.

The Mansa Devi Temple, a major pilgrimage site, attracts thousands of visitors daily, especially during the Shravan month. The incident has raised concerns about crowd management and safety measures at religious sites in India, where large gatherings can overwhelm local infrastructure. This tragedy is the latest in a series of stampedes that have occurred in India in 2025, claiming over 50 lives at religious sites, railway stations, and public events.