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Chaos at Mansa Devi Temple
At least six people died and dozens were injured in a deadly stampede at Haridwar's Mansa Devi Temple in northern India. The incident occurred during the holy month of Shravan when thousands of pilgrims gathered at the hilltop shrine dedicated to the snake goddess believed to fulfill wishes.
Cause of the Panic
Local authorities confirmed the chaos began when rumors spread that an electrical cable had fallen onto a group of devotees. Panicked crowds attempted to flee the congested temple complex, resulting in a fatal crush as people pushed to escape.
Emergency Response
Rescue teams and police immediately responded to search for victims and transport the injured to nearby hospitals. Visuals showed emergency workers carrying injured pilgrims on stretchers through the chaotic scene. The Times of India reported that many victims suffered severe trauma injuries from the compression.
Religious Context
The tragedy occurred during Shravan, the fifth month of the Hindu calendar when pilgrimages to sacred sites peak. Haridwar - where the Ganges enters the Gangetic Plain - hosts major religious events including the Kumbh Mela, which attracts millions. The Mansa Devi Temple is particularly crowded during this period as devotees seek blessings from the wish-fulfilling serpent deity.
Recurring Safety Crisis
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to victims' families. This incident highlights India's ongoing struggle with crowd management at religious gatherings. Similar stampedes have occurred at venues like Mumbai's Elphinstone Road station (2017) and Allahabad's Kumbh Mela (2013), exposing persistent infrastructure and crowd control challenges in a nation of 1.4 billion people.
