Haridwar stampede: 16 die; devotees block Delhi-Rishikesh national highway

HARIDWAR: At least 16 people were crushed to death and over 50 others injured in a stampede at a religious ceremony close to the holy river Ganga in Haridwar's Neeldhara sector on Tuesday.

Unofficial sources, however, put the causality figure at 22.

Uttarakhand chief secretary Subhash Kumar and Hardiwar DM D Senthil Pandyan said the stampede occurred at 10.25am when thousands of devotees, mostly from eastern UP and Bihar were climbing stairs to cross a mini bridge ahead of the venue for the religious ceremony (Gayatri Mahayagya).

The officials said that some of the pilgrims passed out and stumbled due to the smoke emanating from the ceremony venue and while those behind continued to push forward triggering a stampede.

14 women were killed on the spot due to suffocation and two men were declared as 'brought dead' at the GD Hospital near Lalitaro bridge.

DIG( Garhwal range) Sanjay Gunjyal told TOI that while all 16 bodies were lying in the hospital, the process to bring in the injured was on. DIG said that in view of the critical condition of the injured, the death toll might go up.

Hardwar District Magistrate told reporters that on a directive by Uttarakhand CM BC Khanduri, he had ordered a magisterial probe into the circumstances leading to the stampede.

A virtual lawlessness prevailed in Haridwar city as senior administrative and police officials on duty, apart from the organizers, were seen expressing their inability to control the situation. A large number of devotees blocked Delhi-Rishikesh national highway.