Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the District Hospital in Haridwar on Sunday to meet people injured in a tragic stampede at the Mansa Devi temple, which claimed the lives of at least six individuals. The incident occurred earlier in the day and led to chaos among devotees.
Dhami assured that the injured are receiving proper medical care. Some patients have been referred to AIIMS Rishikesh for advanced treatment. He emphasized, “Our priority is that they get good treatment and recover soon.” A toll-free helpline has also been set up for the families.
The Chief Minister announced financial support of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of those who died and Rs 50,000 for the injured. He confirmed that a magisterial inquiry has been ordered to uncover the cause of the incident. “Six people have died in this accident,” he said.
According to the State Disaster Management Centre, five people were critically injured, while 23 others sustained minor injuries. Rescue teams, including the State Disaster Response Force and the fire brigade, are continuing operations at the site.
Preliminary reports suggest the stampede was caused by panic among the crowd following rumors that an overhead electric wire had snapped. This rumor reportedly led to chaos and a rush that caused several people to fall.
Speaking to ANI, CM Dhami stated, “A magisterial inquiry has been ordered, the injured have been shifted to hospital and rescue operations are underway… Strict action will be taken against whoever is found guilty.”
Uttarakhand Minister Ganesh Joshi provided additional details, saying, “14 seriously injured people have been referred to AIIMS Rishikesh and others are being treated at the district hospital. The government is providing full support to the victims.”
Mahant Ravindra Puri, President of the Mansa Devi Mandir Trust, explained that there are three routes to the temple: ropeway, vehicular, and an old footpath from Har Ki Pauri. He mentioned that despite police barricades, the crowd surged and someone slipped, which led to the stampede. “This is not an incident of electrocution,” he clarified, “and we are helping the victim families.”
One of the injured said that the crowd became uncontrollable just 20-25 steps before reaching the temple, causing people to fall. He managed to locate three family members but two are still missing.
Haridwar District Magistrate Mayur Dixit added that photos and videos suggest the panic started due to false information about an electric wire. “We did not find any signs of electrocution,” he said, adding that authorities will investigate who spread the rumor.
