A horrific stampede at a Hindu temple in Haridwar, India, has resulted in five fatalities and multiple injuries during a densely attended religious festival. The incident occurred as thousands of devotees gathered for prayers, with eyewitnesses reporting panic and overcrowding as the primary causes.
Chaos During Sacred Celebrations
The tragedy unfolded at the Mansa Devi Temple, a prominent pilgrimage site, where worshippers had assembled for the Navratri festival. Local authorities confirmed that the victims included three women and two men, while at least a dozen others sustained injuries in the crush.
Eyewitness Accounts
"It happened so fast," recounted one survivor. "People started pushing near the temple gates, and within moments, there was screaming and falling bodies." Police and emergency services struggled to manage the situation as the scale of the disaster became apparent.
Investigation Launched
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered an immediate inquiry into the incident. Preliminary reports suggest inadequate crowd control measures may have contributed to the tragedy. "We mourn the lives lost and will ensure such incidents never recur," Dhami stated.
Religious Gatherings Under Scrutiny
This latest incident raises fresh concerns about safety protocols at India's religious sites, which regularly host massive gatherings. The Haridwar stampede follows similar tragedies at other pilgrimage locations in recent years, prompting calls for improved crowd management strategies.
Medical teams remain on high alert as some injured worshippers are reported to be in critical condition. The temple has temporarily suspended festivities as the community mourns the victims.
