Encroachment, narrow paths, and rumors: Haridwar’s Mansa Devi stampede exposes lapse in crowd control post Kanwar fair
A deadly stampede at Haridwar's Mansa Devi Temple on July 27 has raised serious questions about post-Kanwar crowd management. Triggered by a rumour of electric current and worsened by narrow paths and encroachments, the tragedy revealed administrative lapses despite prior warnings and increased footfall.
Haridwar: The sacred calm of Haridwar was shattered on Sunday morning when a stampede at the Mansa Devi Temple claimed at least six lives and left dozens injured. The incident, which occurred around 9:30 am, was reportedly triggered by a rumour of an electric current leak on the temple’s stairway path.
But as details emerge about this incident, it’s clear that the tragedy was not just a result of panic—it was a culmination of systemic negligence, poor crowd control, and overlooked warnings.
Temple has narrow pedestrian route leading to the hilltop
The stampede unfolded on a narrow pedestrian route leading to the hilltop shrine, where thousands of devotees had gathered following the conclusion of the Kanwar fair. Despite the successful management of 4.5 crore pilgrims during the fair, authorities failed to anticipate the continued influx of Shiva devotees in the days that followed. The police force deployed for the fair was withdrawn just a day before Shivratri, leaving Haridwar vulnerable to overcrowding.
Stairway was packed beyond capacity
From as early as 3 am, devotees began arriving at the temple. By 9:30 am, the stairway was packed beyond capacity. Witnesses described scenes of chaos—people climbing despite no space above, others collapsing under pressure, and injured devotees lying unattended at the entrance. A video showed a policeman rushing with a child in his arms, while another injured man inside an ambulance desperately searched for his family.
Number of pilgrims surged during holy Sawan month
The temple, perched atop Bilwa Parvat, is accessed via nearly 700 steps. On regular days, 15,000 to 20,000 devotees visit. But on this Shravan Sunday, the number surged past 20,000 within hours. Despite this predictable rush, no crowd diversion or barricading was implemented. Unlike during Navratri or Char Dham Yatra, where one-way movement and police coordination are standard, post-Kanwar arrangements were conspicuously absent.
Encroachments along both routes to the temple were also a major reason
Adding to the chaos were encroachments along both routes to the temple, which fall under Rajaji National Park. Temporary shops—selling toys, prasad, and snacks—have narrowed the paths, forcing devotees to squeeze through congested lanes. Many sat along the way due to heat and fatigue, further clogging movement. Despite repeated patrol claims, park officials failed to act against these illegal setups. No department has clarified who authorized the encroachments, nor have any steps been taken to remove them.
Moreover, parking lots remain jammed with vehicles from districts like Bijnor, Moradabad, and Bareilly. Kanwar processions with DJs and tableaux continue to arrive, but without the fair’s infrastructure, traffic and safety are being managed only at the local police station level.
Administrative failure to understand the seriousness
The administration’s inability to grasp the seriousness of post-Kanwar fair crowd management has come under scrutiny. While marathon meetings ensured the Kanwar fair’s success, the same vigilance was not extended to temple sites afterward.
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami issued instructions to the officials to ensure facilities for the devotees at the major religious places of the state during a high-level meeting at the Secretariat on Monday. He said that keeping in mind the increasing number of devotees, crowd management, darshan system, registration process and basic facilities should be improved so that they can get a smooth, safe and systematic darshan experience.