A tragic stampede near the Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar has once again exposed the recurring pattern of administrative lapses during religious gatherings in India. At least six devotees, including a child, lost their lives while 28 others were injured on Sunday morning when a surge of pilgrims caused chaos on the steep steps leading to the revered hilltop shrine.
The incident occurred around 9:00 AM as a massive crowd began ascending the 800-step climb to seek blessings during the ongoing festival season. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as people tripped and fell, leading to a deadly chain reaction in the tightly packed crowd.
While rescue operations were swiftly launched by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and fire department personnel, it was too late for some. Four of the deceased were reported to be from Uttar Pradesh, one from Bihar, and one from Uttarakhand.
The stampede has drawn sharp criticism from political circles, particularly from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which slammed the BJP-led Uttarakhand government for what it called “predictable and repeated failures” in crowd management.
AAP National Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed deep sorrow over the incident, saying, “What happened in Haridwar is not just an unfortunate accident—it is a system failure. How many more lives must be lost before governments ensure basic safety at religious events?”
Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia echoed the sentiment, adding that such incidents reflect a dangerous pattern of neglect. “Every year, we hear about stampedes, fires, or collapses at temples and fairs. The question is—what lessons are being learned? Clearly, not enough,” he said in a statement.
Atishi, Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, also spoke out strongly, demanding long-term reforms. “People visit temples with faith and devotion, not to return in coffins. The administration must treat religious gatherings with the same seriousness as high-security political events,” she stated.
AAP’s Chief Spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar took a direct dig at the BJP, accusing it of exploiting religion for votes while ignoring devotees' safety. “Temples are used as campaign backdrops, but when it comes to managing crowds or providing basic facilities, it’s always the same story—total collapse. The BJP must take responsibility,” she posted on social media.
Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the injured at the district hospital, assuring full medical care and announcing a magisterial probe into the tragedy. He also declared compensation of ₹2 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for those injured.
