Dehradun, July 27 (UNI) Six devotees died in a stampede at the renowned Mansadevi Temple in Haridwar today.
Several injured devotees were rushed to the hospitals as rescue and search operation was taken up by the local police and Haridwar district disaster management department.
Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey has confirmed the stampede at Mansadevi Temple in Haridwar and said that six deaths were informed by the officials engaged in rescue operation.
However other officials in Haridwar district claimed that the death figure had gone up to 10 by 10.30 am even as local police had begun a rescue operation at the stampede site.
Although Garhwal Commissioner did not share more details as to the accident a Haridwar district administration official claimed that several devotees were injured in the stampede and rushed to the district hospital for medical aid.
Speaking to the media Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey informed that a stampede at Mansadevi Temple occurred this morning as the temple steps were heavily crowded by the devotees.
Pandey who was heading to the spot from Dehradun said that the reason for the stampede could be known only after inquiry.
However district and local police officials in Haridwar informed on the condition of anonymity that a rumour as to falling down of an electric wire on the temple steps amid created chaos in the crowd triggering the stampede.
Meanwhile, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has also joined hands in rescue operations with local police district administration, as the news was being filed.
Reacting to the incident chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said, “There is extremely distressing news of stampede on the track of Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar. SDRF, local police, and other rescue teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations. I am in continuous contact with the local administration and constantly monitoring the situation. I pray to Mata Rani for the well-being of all the devotees.”
