'Panic after rumour of snapped high-voltage electric wire': What triggered stampede at Mansadevi Temple

A stampede at a popular Hindu temple in northern India left at least six people dead, officials said Sunday.

According to a DW tally, the crush was at least the seventh major stampede in India so far this year, including one at a cricket stadium in Bengaluru in June. The incidents have resulted in over 70 deaths.

What do we know about the Haridwar stampede?

The incident happened at the Mansa Devi temple in the northern city of Haridwar in Uttarakhand state, about a 5-hour drive from the country's capital, New Delhi.

The crush reportedly began at around 8.30 a.m. local time (0300 UTC) after a high-voltage electric wire fell on a temple path, triggering panic among the large group of devotees.

Officials also believe the crush could have been triggered by a rumor, the Times of India reported.

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TRAGIC! Stampede at Mansadevi Temple occurred on Sunday morning as the temple steps were heavily crowded by the devotees.#STAMPEDE #MansaDeviTemple #mansadevimandir #uttarakhandnews pic.twitter.com/w89JUCyBnG

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Haridwar police official Parmendra Dobhal told AFP news agency that six people had been killed and more than 10 were injured.

The Times of India put the number of injured at 34, citing local officials.

Vinay Shankar Pandey, a senior government official in Uttarakhand state, recalled how worshippers had scrambled for safety following the incident.

"The situation is now under control," Pandey told the Associated Press by phone from Haridwar. "But the panic led to tragic consequences."

Uttarakhand's chief minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, wrote on X that local police and other rescue teams had reached the spot and were engaged in relief and rescue operations.

The injured have been taken to the local hospital, Indian news agency ANI reported.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent his condolences to the victims and their families in a social media post.

What is Haridwar's significance for Hindus?

Local officials said thousands of pilgrims had gathered at the hilltop temple, which is a major site for Hindu devotees, especially on weekends and festival days.

Haridwar is an ancient city and considered a holy place, lying where the River Ganges exits the Himalayan foothills.   

Deadly stampedes and crowd crushes are a common occurrence in India.

At least 30 people died at the Maha Kumbh Hindu festival in January as tens of millions gathered to dip in sacred waters.

In June, a sudden crowd surge at a Hindu festival in the coastal state of Odisha triggered a stampede that killed at least three people and injured several others.

Also in June, 11 people were killed and dozens injured in a crowd crush during celebrations for Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s victory in the Indian Premier League cricket.

The previous month, six people were crushed to death in the western state of Goa after thousands gathered for a popular fire-walking ritual.

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