Mumbai, July 27 -- A devastating stampede at the revered Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar early Sunday morning claimed six lives and left several others injured, triggering nationwide concerns over crowd safety at religious sites. The incident unfolded as thousands of devotees thronged the hilltop shrine atop Bilwa Parvat, which is accessible by a narrow footpath and a popular ropeway service.

Eyewitnesses reported that a sudden bottleneck on the pathway created a wave of panic, resulting in a crush that overwhelmed pilgrims who had little space to escape or breathe. Emergency services were quick to respond. Garhwal Division Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey, who arrived at the site soon after the incident, confirmed that police, fire perso...