Jammu & Kashmir

Stampede kills 12, leaves 14 injured at Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra

A file photo of the front side of the Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra.

Jammu: 12 pilgrims were killed and 14 others injured in a stampede at Jammu and Kashmir’s Vaishno Devi shrine, officials said Saturday.

An official said that the stampede was triggered by a massive rush of devotees on the occasion of New Year at the shrine.

They said that the incident occurred around 2: 45 am at midnight when a large number of devotees queued to have Darshan inside the cave on Trikuta hills in Katra ended up in a chaotic situation.

“The stampede broke out when a huge crowd of devotees, who had come to pay their obeisance to mark the beginning of the New Year, entered the Vaishno Devi Bhawan,” the officials said.

The police said that rescue operations started immediately and all the injured have been taken to hospitals, where the condition of some is stated to be “serious”.

Meanwhile, after the incident, Jammu and Kashmir administration launched a rescue operation and also initiated a high-level probe into the accident.

“A high-level inquiry has been ordered into the stampede. The Inquiry Committee will be headed by Principal Secretary (Home) with ADGP, Jammu and Divisional Commissioner, Jammu as members,” officials said.

“Deeply pained at the loss of lives due to stampede at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine. My condolences to the families of the deceased & prayers with the injured,” the Lieutenant Governor of JK, Manoj Sinha said in a tweet from his official handle.

He said that he spoke with the Prime Minister of India and “briefed him about the incident.” He further announced that an amount of Rs10 lakh each would be given to the families of those who lost their lives in the stampede and Rs 2 lakh to those injured. He also stated that the shrine board will bear the cost of treatment.

 

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