At least six people lost their lives and more than 30 others were injured in a stampede at a crowded Hindu temple in northern India on Sunday.
The tragic incident took place at the Mansa Devi temple, a well-known religious site located in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, about five hours by road from New Delhi.
The stampede happened early in the morning, around 8:30 a.m. local time, when panic spread among devotees following the fall of a high-voltage electric wire near the temple path.
Thousands of worshippers were gathered for prayers, as weekends typically see heavy footfall at the hilltop shrine. Some reports suggest that a rumor may have added to the fear, causing a rush for safety.
Local authorities confirmed that six people died in the chaos. While one source put the number of injured at more than ten, another report cited at least 34 injuries.
Emergency services and police responded quickly to bring the situation under control and start rescue efforts.
Officials said the injured were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Uttarakhand’s state leadership also confirmed that relief work was underway, and teams were stationed at the site to manage the crowd and help the affected families.
Haridwar is considered a sacred city in Hinduism. It sits where the River Ganges leaves the Himalayan foothills and is a key destination for pilgrims year-round.
The Mansa Devi temple, located atop a hill, draws thousands of devotees, especially during holidays and weekends.
Stampedes at religious and public events are unfortunately not uncommon in India.
This marks at least the seventh major crowd crush incident in the country this year.
In June, similar tragedies occurred during a Hindu festival in Odisha and a cricket celebration in Bengaluru, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries.