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Indian Express
a day ago
- Indian Express
After Haridwar stampede jolt, Uttarakhand looks at regulating pilgrim flow
A day after the Haridwar stampede, the Uttarakhand government is looking to form guidelines for crowd management, pilgrim registration, and widening of footpaths and stairways. The government is also in the process of introducing policies to remove encroachments and provide essential amenities to devotees for a 'smooth and safe pilgrimage experience', the Chief Minister's Office said. On Sunday, eight people died in a stampede at Haridwar's Mansa Devi mandir following panic triggered by a rumoured electrical hazard around 100 metres from the temple's entrance. The three-metre-wide ramp, where the stampede took place, was used by a massive crowd entering and exiting the temple. This path was further encroached on one side by shops. Some survivors had alleged the shopkeepers did not let them in. Mansa Devi temple authorities do not keep a count of the number of visitors each day, but staff estimate that around 20,000 people reached the temple between 5 am and 9 am on Sunday. Staff managing the ropeway infrastructure at the temple said that with 27 cable cars, they see a crowd of over 6,000 on most days during Sawan. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, during a high-level meeting at the Secretariat on Monday, directed officials to ensure proper arrangements at the state's major religious sites such as the Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi temples in Haridwar, Purnagiri Dham in Tanakpur, Kainchi Dham in Nainital, Jageshwar Temple in Almora, and the Neelkanth Mahadev Temple in Pauri, keeping in mind the large number of devotees. He directed that a committee be constituted under the chairmanship of the commissioners of both Garhwal and Kumaon divisions. This committee will include the district magistrates of the districts concerned, senior superintendents of police, vice-chairpersons of the development authorities, and representatives from executing agencies. The CMO said that they will look at the planned development of the Mansa Devi temple complex and other major temple premises. 'Mandatory registration of pilgrims must be implemented, and the number of pilgrims allowed for darshan should be regulated through a phased system, to ensure effective crowd control and a hassle-free experience for devotees,' the CMO said. Aiswarya Raj is a correspondent with The Indian Express who covers South Haryana. An alumna of Asian College of Journalism and the University of Kerala, she started her career at The Indian Express as a sub-editor in the Delhi city team. In her current position, she reports from Gurgaon and covers the neighbouring districts. She likes to tell stories of people and hopes to find moorings in narrative journalism. ... Read More
News18
a day ago
- Politics
- News18
Dhami asks Uttarakhand officials to make anti-conversion law more stringent
Dehradun, Jul 28 (PTI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday expressed concern over recent incidents of attempted conversions in the state and asked officials to make the anti-conversion law more stringent. Proper counselling and guidance should be provided to people caught in the trap of elements indulging in conversion, Dhami said at a meeting held with senior officials at the secretariat. 'In view of recent incidents, immediate steps should be taken to make the anti-conversion law more stringent, " he said. In a joint effort, the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand police recently arrested six individuals linked to the Chhangur gang, an international religious conversion racket operating out of Pakistan and Dubai. Noting that Operation Kalanemi — targeting people impersonating saints, cheating the public and defaming Sanatan — which was launched earlier this month, has been successful in curbing such elements. He said the campaign, which is aimed at people hurting the image of Sanatan, needs to be carried forward. He said an SIT should be constituted at the state police headquarters level to monitor the campaign. 'Uttarakhand is a border state as well as the sacred land of Sanatan. Therefore, any attempt to change its demography should strictly be thwarted," he said, asking the police to keep an eye on such suspicious activities. The Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act, amended in 2022, prohibits religious conversion through misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or any fraudulent means. It is a cognisable and non-bailable offence, punishable by imprisonment of three to ten years and a fine of at least Rs 50,000. Additionally, the court may order the accused to pay compensation of up to Rs 5 lakh to the victim. PTI ALM ALM KSS KSS (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: July 28, 2025, 16:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
At least 6 killed in India temple stampede
dpa New Dehli At least six people have died in a stampede at a Hindu temple in India, authorities said on Sunday. The incident occurred on a staircase in front of the Mansa Devi Temple in the northern Indian city of Haridwar, according to a police statement on Instagram. Initial information suggests that a rumour about the risk of electrocution from an exposed wire may have been the cause. Media reports also mentioned numerous injuries. An investigation would be conducted and financial support provided to the victims, the chief minister of the state of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, announced on X. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the victims' families on the platform. Stampedes occur repeatedly in India. In June, 11 people died in an incident outside a cricket stadium in the city of Bengaluru during celebrations for a victory by the Royal Challengers team. In January, during the world's largest pilgrimage festival, Maha Kumbh Mela, at least 30 people were killed in a stampede in the northern city of Prayagraj. Haridwar, located on the Ganges River at the foot of the Himalayas, is an important pilgrimage site in Hinduism.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Haridwar stampede: Mansa Devi Temple Trust announces Rs 2 lakh ex gratia for kin of victims
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Following the tragic stampede near the Mansa Devi Temple in Uttarakhand's Haridwar on Sunday morning, the Mansa Devi Temple Trust authorities have announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh will be given to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to each of the least six people were killed and several others injured in the incident that occurred during a heavy rush of Uttarakhand government has also announced the same ex gratia compensation. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said a magisterial inquiry has been ordered."The injured are being treated. Some have been referred to AIIMS Rishikesh. Our priority is that they get good treatment and recover soon. A toll-free number has also been issued. Magisterial inquiry has been ordered and ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured, also announced," Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami told Chief Minister visited the Haridwar District Hospital to inquire about the condition of the injured and directed doctors to ensure the best medical care. He assured that all necessary arrangements would be made immediately and promised all possible support to the affected a speedy recovery to the injured, Dhami stated that the state government stands with every person affected by this tragic incident and with the bereaved assured that the government will leave no stone unturned in providing all possible assistance to the treatment of the injured and their family AIIMS Rishikesh Director Dr Meenu Singh said that four people are in critical condition after the stampede at Haridwar's Mansa Devi Temple on Sunday said that out of the 10 patients currently admitted to AIIMS Rishikesh, two were children."The incident took place around 9 am, and patients started coming in around 11 am. So far, 15 patients have been brought here, and 4-5 have been sent back because they sustained minor injuries. Out of the 10 patients admitted, two are children. Four are in a critical condition... Treatment of all the patients is underway...," Dr Singh told Droupadi Murmu also expressed her condolences at the loss of lives in the stampede this morning on the route to the Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar, a post on X, President Murmu wrote, "The news of the death of many devotees in the stampede accident on the way to the Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar is deeply painful.""I express my heartfelt condolences to all the grieving families. I pray that all the injured devotees recover quickly," the post read.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
Six crushed to death In India temple stampede
Listen to article At least six people were crushed to death at a popular Hindu temple in northern India's Uttarakhand state on Sunday, officials said, after a massive crowd surge. The stampede occurred on the stairway leading to the Mansa Devi temple in the Hindu holy city of Haridwar, on the banks of the Ganges river, and left many injured. "Six dead and more than 10 injured are admitted to the hospital," senior city police official Parmendra Dobhal told AFP. प्रदेश सरकार मनसा देवी मंदिर मार्ग पर हुए हृदय विदारक हादसे के घायलों और मृतकों के परिजनों के साथ खड़ी है। हादसे की मजिस्ट्रियल जांच के निर्देश दे दिए गए हैं। — Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) July 27, 2025 Uttarkhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said relief and rescue operations were underway. "I am constantly in touch with the local administration regarding this matter and continuous monitoring of the situation is being done," he said in a statement. Also Read: Drone debris disrupts trains, suspends flights in Volgograd Deadly stampedes and crowd crushes are a common occurrence at Indian religious festivals. In June, a sudden crowd surge at a Hindu festival in the coastal state of Odisha triggered a stampede that killed at least three people and injured several others. The previous month six people were crushed to death in the western state of Goa after thousands gathered for a popular fire-walking ritual. And in January, at least 30 people were killed in an early morning crush at the Kumbh Mela, a Hindu mega-festival in the northern city of Prayagraj.
