Ex-Gratia Announced ₹2 lakh for deceased’s families, ₹50,000 for the injured
Dehradun/Haridwar – A tragic incident occurred on Sunday morning at the footpath of the renowned Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar, where a sudden stampede claimed the lives of six devotees and left 28 others injured. The incident took place around 9 AM during a heavy rush of pilgrims.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families. He announced an ex-gratia amount of ₹2 lakh each to the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for each injured devotee. He assured that the state government is committed to providing all possible assistance and support to those affected.
Magisterial Inquiry Ordered
The Chief Minister has instructed the Haridwar District Magistrate to provide immediate relief and necessary aid to the victims. He also ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident to ascertain the causes and fix responsibility.
Further, CM Dhami directed Secretary, Disaster Management and Rehabilitation, Vinod Kumar Suman to conduct a thorough review of crowd management, security protocols, and travel route arrangements to ensure such mishaps are prevented in the future.
Swift Medical Response
Disaster Management Secretary Suman stated that first aid was administered to the injured immediately after the incident. While five seriously injured individuals have been referred to AIIMS Rishikesh, the remaining 23 are being treated at Haridwar District Hospital. Teams from the Health Department are on-site and continuously assisting the injured. The Chief Minister is monitoring the situation and receiving constant updates on the rescue and relief operations.
Helpline Numbers Released
To assist the affected and provide information, the following helpline numbers have been activated:
District Emergency Operations Center, Haridwar:
📞 01334-223999, 9068197350, 9528250926
State Emergency Operations Center, Dehradun:
📞 0135-2710334, 0135-2710335, 8218867005, 9058441404
Citizens can use these numbers to inquire about the injured, deceased, and ongoing relief efforts.
All Agencies Active on the Ground
Immediately after the incident, teams from the District Administration, SDRF, NDRF, Police, Health Department, and other support agencies reached the site and began rescue operations on a war footing.
Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey, IG Garhwal Rajiv Swaroop, DM Haridwar Mayur Dixit, and SSP Pramod Dobal visited the site to supervise the operations and later reviewed the condition of the injured at the hospital.
Commissioner Pandey assured that the injured are receiving the best possible medical care, and concrete steps will be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Enhanced Crowd Management Measures Ordered
Chief Minister Dhami has directed officials to strengthen crowd control mechanisms at all major religious sites across the state. This includes improvements in CCTV surveillance, directional signage, emergency evacuation routes, and inter-agency coordination.
Appeal to Devotees: Don’t Believe in Rumors
Disaster Management Secretary Suman urged devotees not to fall prey to any rumors or misinformation and to rely only on official updates from the administration. He reaffirmed that devotee safety is the topmost priority, and the state government is fully committed to relief and rehabilitation efforts.
