A deadly stampede at the Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, killed nine people and injured at least 30 others on July 27, 2025, after rumors of electrical hazards triggered panic among thousands of devotees gathered at the hilltop shrine.
The incident occurred around 9 a.m. along the pedestrian route leading to the temple, where more than 5,000 devotees from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar had congregated. Officials reported that rumors about electrical wires causing electrocution created immediate panic, leading to the fatal crush on the narrow pathway. Later investigations found no electric leakage. The Uttarakhand Power Corporation ruled out an electrocution threat.
Among the victims were Shanti Devi, 60, and her husband Rambharose, 65, both from Badaun, Uttar Pradesh; Sakal Dev, 35 (sources vary), from Araria, Bihar; 12-year-old Arush (sources vary), Vicky Saini, 18, and Vishal Kumar, 19, all from Rampur, Uttar Pradesh; Vakeel Prasad, 45 (sources vary), from Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh; and Vipin Saini, 19, from Kashipur, Udham Singh Nagar. The injured included Diksha, 26, and her four-year-old daughter Akankshi from Rampur, who were reported in critical condition. Phoolmati, mid-50s, from Barabanki, died later, raising the total dead to nine.
Haridwar Senior Superintendent of Police Pramendra Singh Dobal said, “Upon reaching the site, around 33 people were rescued.” Hospital officials at AIIMS Rishikesh confirmed that 15 people were brought for treatment, with five discharged, four admitted to the intensive care unit, and six placed in other wards.
Eyewitness accounts revealed inadequate crowd control measures and limited assistance during the crisis. Nirmala, 28, who lost her son Arush in the stampede, described how she maintained her grip on her two children as they fell in the crush. She reported that when a man attempted to help them reach safety at nearby shops, shopkeepers refused entry to the victims seeking shelter.
The stampede occurred on a pedestrian ramp less than three meters wide, encroached upon by shops on one side. Temple staff indicated that police typically close the pathway when the complex reaches capacity, but this procedure was not implemented despite the massive crowd. The temple complex can be accessed by both ropeway and pedestrian route, with staff estimating approximately 20,000 visitors reached the temple between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. that day.
Area Station House Officer Ritesh Shah indicated the crowd size was not unusual for the temple, noting larger gatherings during events like the Kanwar Yatra and Ganga Dussehra. He suggested the stampede may have been triggered when several young people climbed a wall, causing other devotees to panic and fall.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the hospital to assess the victims’ conditions and announced compensation of 200,000 rupees for the families of the deceased and 50,000 rupees for each injured person. He ordered a detailed magisterial probe into the incident, directing the Haridwar district magistrate to provide urgent relief and assistance to all victims and their families.
District Magistrate Mayur Dixit confirmed that the pedestrian route from Upper Road was immediately closed following the incident to prevent additional crowding. He noted that victims died from chest injuries rather than electrocution, contradicting initial reports about electrical hazards. A Sub-Divisional Magistrate will head the investigation team and must submit a detailed report within 15 days.
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over the deaths. Modi stated his sadness over the loss of lives and wished for the injured to recover soon, while emphasizing that local administration was assisting those affected. Mahant Ravindra Puri, president of the Mansa Devi temple trust, announced additional compensation of 500,000 rupees for families of the deceased and 100,000 rupees for the injured.
The Mansa Devi temple, considered a Sidhpeeth, sits atop Bilva hill, approximately 1,500 feet above sea level, in the vicinity of the Haridwar range of Rajaji Tiger Reserve. Originally accessible only through narrow serpentine paths, the site received improved road access and a ropeway installation by the Haridwar civic body in 1995 to accommodate the large number of pilgrims visiting year-round.
The Uttar Pradesh government announced financial assistance of 200,000 rupees for each family of deceased residents from the state. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed officials to coordinate with Uttarakhand authorities to ensure proper transportation of victims’ remains to their home districts.
This incident represents the latest in a series of deadly stampedes at Hindu religious gatherings across India. Similar tragedies occurred in recent months, including deaths at religious festivals in Puri and Prayagraj, highlighting ongoing challenges with crowd management at popular pilgrimage sites during peak visitation periods.
