Mansa Devi Temple Stampede: Did a flash of electric current take 6 lives? Know the full story
The horrific Mansa Devi temple stampede shook everyone during the rainy season in the ancient and sacred Mansa Devi temple of Haridwar. 6 devotees lost their lives in this accident, while many others were seriously injured. This mishap took place around 9 am on Sunday, when there was a huge crowd of devotees on the steps of the temple.
What was the reason for Mansa Devi Temple stampede?
When the whole of Haridwar was immersed in the colours of devotees in the holy month of Shravan, the news of Mansa Devi temple being stampede created a stir in the entire city. According to Haridwar’s District Magistrate Mayur Dixit, the incident took place after a rumour in which it was said that an electricity wire had broken and current was running through it.
According to an eyewitness, someone shouted loudly that a live electric wire had fallen on the road. This rumour instantly created an atmosphere of fear among the devotees and people started running away. Due to heavy crowd and narrow road, people started falling on each other, due to which an incident like Mansa Devi temple stampede happened.
Scene of stampede: Bhakti ka mela bana bhai ka maidaan
The temple’s climb goes up to the top of Shivalik hills. This place is not only a major religious place of Haridwar, but it is also considered one of the “Panch Tirth”. Every year thousands of devotees come here for worship, but in the month of Shravan the crowd here becomes very high.
At 9 in the morning, when people were standing in line to have darshan of Mansa Devi, rumours created such a ruckus that the result came in the form of 6 innocent lives. 10-15 people were also injured in the Mansa Devi temple stampede, some of whom are in critical condition.
Action and response from the state government
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has expressed deep condolences on the incident. He said, “Very sad news has been received about the horrific stampede on the way to Mansa Devi temple. SDRF, local police and medical teams immediately reached the spot and relief work is underway.”
The injured were immediately evacuated and admitted to hospitals. SDRF and police helped the devotees reach a safe place. Relief operations are still underway, and the administration has assured that the real cause of the stampede will be investigated.
Mansa Devi Temple Stampede: Need for Future Safety Measures
This incident has once again raised the question that how strong is the crowd management and security arrangements at such big religious places? Is the administration prepared for emergency situations when there is a rush of devotees on occasions like the Shravan month?
To avoid incidents like the Mansa Devi temple stampede, it is necessary that:
- There should be a system of loudspeakers or digital announcements to counter the rumours immediately.
- There should be visibility of trained volunteers and police force in crowd management.
- Electric safety checks should be done at regular intervals.
- Multiple safe routes should be developed to reach the temple.
Final thoughts
Haridwar’s Mansa Devi temple stampede has not only taken some lives but has also shaken the faith of devotees. Until strict action is taken against rumours and misinformation, such accidents can be repeated again and again.
This is the time to learn – not just for the administration, but for all of us. May the blessings of Mansa Devi Maa remain on everyone, but it is also our responsibility to take care of safety along with devotion.