Twelve pilgrims have died and over a dozen others injured in a stampede at Jammu and Kashmir's Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. The stampede was triggered by a massive rush of devotees, officials said today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "personally monitoring and keeping track" of the tragic situation, a minister in his office said.
Mukesh Singh, the Additional Director General of Police or ADGP, confirmed that 12 pilgrims have died and at least 14 are injured in the stampede. "All the injured have been taken to a hospital," he added.
The incident occurred outside the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine on Trikuta hills.
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, officials said, adding that "large groups of devotees reportedly entered the Bhawan without permission slips."
The police said that rescue operations started immediately and all the injured have been taken to hospitals, where condition of some is stated to be "serious".
The Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir shared the helpline numbers of the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Helpline nos:
01991-234804
01991-234053
Other Helpline nos:
PCR Katra 01991232010/ 9419145182
PCR Reasi 0199145076/ 9622856295
DC Office Reasi Control room
01991245763/ 9419839557
"Extremely saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sending his "condolences to the bereaved families."
Extremely saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. Spoke to JK LG Shri @manojsinha_ Ji, Ministers Shri @DrJitendraSingh Ji, @nityanandraibjp Ji and took stock of the situation.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 1, 2022The Prime Minister's Office also announced an amount of Rs 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. The PMO said that the amount would be given to the families of those who lost their lives due to the stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan. The injured would be given Rs 50,000, the PM's Office added.
An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of those who lost their lives due to the stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 1, 2022"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 J&K, Manoj Sinha said in a tweet from his official account.
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.
— Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) January 1, 2022He said that he spoke with the Prime Minister 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.
Ex-gratia of Rs.10 lakh each would be given to the next of kin of those who lost their lives due to stampede and Rs.2 lakh to injured. Shrine board to bear the cost of treatment of injured.
— Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) January 1, 2022Union Minister Jitendra Singh, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office said that PM Narendra Modi is "personally monitoring and keeping track of the tragic situation arising out of stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine."
AdvertisementHe further stated that PM Modi has "conveyed his sympathies to bereaved families and issued instructions to provide all possible medical aid & assistance to the injured."
PM Sh @narendramodi is personally monitoring and keeping track of the tragic situation arising out of stampede at Mata #VaishnoDevi shrine. PM has conveyed his sympathies to bereaved families and issued instructions to provide all possible medical aid & assistance to the injured.
— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) January 1, 2022Senior officials and representatives from the shrine board are at the spot.
