Lucknow, India (AP) — At least six people have been killed and dozens have been injured as crowds surged at a popular Hindu temple in northern India, local officials said on Sunday.
The incident in the pilgrimage city of Haridwar reportedly occurred after high-voltage electrical lines fell on the temple road, causing panic amongst many followers.
Vinai Shankar Pandi, a senior government official in Uttarakhand where the incident occurred, confirmed the death and said the worshipers had taken their safety after the incident.
About 29 people were injured, according to Haridwar police officer Pramendra Singh Doval.
Thousands of pilgrims gathered at Mantha Devi Hilltop Temple. This is a major location for Hindu followers, especially on weekends and festival days, local officials said. They were celebrating the holy month of Shravan.
Someone in the crowd cried out about the current in the path around 9am
“Because the roads are narrow and only means immediate spread of pedestrians, chaos and panic,” said local priest Ujwal Pandit.
“The walls along the path are also suspected of exacerbating the crowd’s bottleneck,” he added.
Police and emergency services rushed to the scene and began rescue operations. The injured were taken to a nearby hospital, officials said.
“The situation is currently under control,” Pandi told The Associated Press on a call in Haridwar. “But the panic has had tragic consequences.”
Authorities are investigating the cause of the overhead wire collapse and whether appropriate crowd management protocols are in place.
The town of Haridwar paints millions of visitors each year. Accessible by cable car and foot, Manthadevi Temple is a major pilgrimage site that attracts thousands of visitors every day during Shravan.
A surge in crowds at religious gatherings is not uncommon in India. In India, large groups often gather at temples and pilgrimage sites, sometimes overwhelming local infrastructure and security measures.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sadness to the victims and their families in a social media post, hoping for a quick recovery for those injured.
