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July 28, 2025 – Panchkula, Haryana — A religious celebration turned tragic on Monday morning as a stampede at the revered Mansa Devi Temple claimed the lives of six devotees and injured at least 20 others. The incident occurred during the peak of the Sawan Navratri festivities, drawing tens of thousands of pilgrims to the temple premises.
According to initial reports, the tragedy unfolded around 5:30 AM when a sudden surge in the crowd led to chaos at one of the narrow temple entry points. Witnesses described scenes of panic as pilgrims pushed to enter the sanctum for an early morning darshan. The pressure of the crowd reportedly caused several people—many of them elderly or women—to fall and get trampled.
Authorities say that inadequate crowd management, combined with an overwhelming turnout, may have contributed to the deadly crush. “Despite prior warnings, the crowd far exceeded our expectations. The situation escalated quickly before additional personnel could intervene,” said a senior official from the Panchkula district administration.
Emergency services were deployed immediately, and the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals. While some sustained minor injuries, several remain in critical condition.
Victims and Response
The deceased include three women and two senior citizens, all of whom had traveled from neighboring districts for the religious event. Their identities are being withheld pending notification of families.
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and announced an ex gratia of ₹5 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. “This is an irreparable loss. We will ensure that those affected receive all necessary support,” he said.
The government has also ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident to examine lapses in planning and crowd control. “We must understand what went wrong and ensure accountability,” said Home Minister Anil Vij, who visited the site later in the day.
Historical Concerns
The Mansa Devi Temple, located in the foothills of the Shivalik range, is one of northern India’s most significant Shakti temples. Every year, particularly during Navratri, the site sees a surge in footfall, with pilgrim numbers swelling into the hundreds of thousands. While the temple has faced crowding issues in the past, this marks the deadliest stampede in its recent history.
Calls for Reform
In the wake of the disaster, devotees and local activists are calling for a comprehensive overhaul of crowd management protocols at religious sites. “It’s not the first time devotees have faced danger due to mismanagement. How many more lives will it take before authorities act?” asked Renu Sharma, a member of a temple reform committee.
Security experts emphasize the need for regulated entry systems, real-time surveillance, and increased deployment of disaster response teams during high-risk events.
As mourning envelopes the region, questions loom over whether this tragedy could have been prevented—and what steps will be taken to ensure such a catastrophe never recurs.
(Newsroom staff only edited this story for style from a syndicated feed)
