A panic-triggered stampede, on the narrow hill path to Haridwar’s Mansa Devi Temple, sparked by a rumour of a fallen high-tension wire, left eight dead and 28 injured, exposing the alarming vulnerability of India’s overcrowded and poorly planned pilgrimage sites.
Witnesses described an overcrowded route flanked by over 200 unauthorized stalls that left no room for escape. Survivors said there was no barricading, no directional control, and critically, no police presence when panic struck. When people began running, those ahead fell; others trampled them. There was nowhere to go.
This isn’t an isolated incident; it’s a symptom of a national problem. Religious real estate in India operates in a grey zone, largely untouched by the zoning laws, building codes, and safety standards that govern other public spaces. Most temple premises and pilgrimage routes are under the control of religious trusts or local governing boards, often beyond the purview of city planners or civic authorities. What results is a chaotic, often dangerous maze of stalls, unmarked exits, and dangerously narrow paths.
Experts and past inquiries have long warned of this. India's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has laid out detailed guidelines on managing mass gatherings, including crowd flow simulations, one-way pathways, and capped entry systems. But implementation is rare. Temples experience massive seasonal surges, with millions visiting during festivals like Kumbh Mela or Navratri, yet they often lack the permanent infrastructure and trained personnel needed to manage such crowds safely.
The Haridwar stampede joins a grim list of avoidable disasters. In 2013, a stampede at the Ratangarh Temple in Madhya Pradesh killed over 115 people. In 1999, 53 pilgrims died in a crowd crush at Kerala’s Sabarimala. Even at the 2025 Kumbh Mela, despite heavy investment and national oversight, at least 30 people were killed in crowd-related incidents near bathing ghats. Common threads include narrow passages, unchecked crowds, blocked evacuation routes, and poor enforcement.
So, Why Do These Failures Keep Repeating?
First, religious sites are often granted immunity from standard regulatory scrutiny. Political sensitivities prevent strict oversight. Temple boards may resist state interference, citing tradition or religious autonomy. Meanwhile, local authorities are reluctant to crack down on illegal vendors and stalls that drive festival-season commerce.
Second, most pilgrimage destinations lack real capacity assessments. No clear data exists on how many people the temple premises or hill routes can safely accommodate. Crowd estimates are routinely exceeded during peak seasons. Infrastructure, whether pathways, railings, toilets, or medical aid posts, rarely scales up to match.
Third, enforcement is weak even when warnings are clear. After every major stampede, inquiry commissions recommend tighter control and structured development. But those findings are rarely implemented. The lessons fade, the crowds return, and the cycle begins anew.
Haridwar was no different. The state government has ordered a probe, and officials have removed some illegal stalls post-incident. But unless those actions lead to structural reform, like mandatory safety codes, regulated vendor zoning, and trained crowd marshals, little will change. Faith-driven footfall will continue to outpace infrastructure, and another temple town will make headlines for the wrong reasons.
Prayers Won’t Fix Poor Planning
India’s spiritual fervor is immense and growing. Pilgrimage tourism is booming, contributing significantly to local economies. But unregulated growth around sacred spaces is proving deadly. Religious reverence cannot justify safety shortcuts. Pilgrims deserve more than divine hope; they deserve protection.
Its time religious real estate was treated like what it is: public infrastructure handling mass populations. That means exits mapped, capacities capped, stalls removed from evacuation paths, and accountability fixed.
Until that happens, every temple with poor planning is a potential tragedy waiting to unfold.