Crowd surge at Hindu temple in northern India leaves at least 6 people dead
BISWAJEET BANERJEE
Associated Press
LUCKNOW, India (AP) — A crowd surge at a popular Hindu temple in northern India left at least six people dead and others injured, local authorities said Sunday.
The incident in the city of Haridwar occurred after a high-voltage electric wire reportedly fell on a temple path, triggering panic among the large crowd of devotees.
Vinay Shankar Pandey, a senior government official in Uttarakhand state where the incident happened, confirmed the deaths and said worshippers scrambled for safety following the incident.
Thousands of pilgrims had gathered at the Mansa Devi hilltop temple, which is a major site for Hindu devotees, especially on weekends and festival days, local officials said.
Police and emergency services rushed to the scene after the incident and launched a rescue operation. The injured were transported to a nearby hospital, officials said.
“The situation is now under control,” Pandey told the Associated Press by phone from Haridwar. “But the panic led to tragic consequences.”
Authorities are investigating what caused the overhead wire to collapse, and whether proper crowd management protocols were in place.
The temple town draws millions of visitors each year.
Crowd surges at religious gatherings are not uncommon in India, where massive groups often congregate at temples or pilgrimage sites, sometimes overwhelming local infrastructure and security measures.
