A tragic stampede at the Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, left seven people dead and dozens injured during the peak of the Hindu holy month of Sawan. The incident unfolded on the temple's stairway leading up to the shrine, with preliminary reports suggesting that widespread panic—triggered by rumors of electrocution—caused chaos among the dense crowd of pilgrims.

According to officials, a massive gathering had formed at the temple when fear of an electric current running through the area sparked panic. The ensuing rush led to a stampede, with many devotees caught in the commotion. Commissioner of Garhwal Division, Vinay Shankar Pandey, confirmed the unusually large turnout of worshippers ahead of the incident.

Haridwar’s Senior Superintendent of Police, Pramendra Singh Dobal, said the police and rescue teams responded immediately. "Initial reports suggest the stampede was caused by panic over an electrical hazard. So far, six deaths were confirmed at the time, with 35 others receiving hospital care,” Dobal noted. The death toll has since risen to seven, and the number of injured now stands at 55.

Disturbing visuals showed ambulances transporting the injured and medical teams attending to devotees in local hospitals. The incident happened during Sawan, a spiritually significant month when thousands of devotees—including Kanwariyas—flock to Haridwar to offer prayers and collect Ganga water.

An eyewitness from Bihar who sustained a fractured hand recounted how a sudden surge in the crowd led to people falling over one another. “There was no space to move. People panicked and started pushing, and that’s when I fell,” he told news agency ANI.

Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. “It is heartbreaking to learn of the stampede on the way to Mansa Devi Temple. I am in continuous contact with the district administration, and rescue efforts by police and SDRF teams are underway. Praying to the Goddess for everyone's safety,” he posted on X.

Rescue and relief operations are being carried out by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local police, and other emergency teams, with authorities now focused on crowd management and ensuring no further casualties.