Last Updated on January 1, 2022 at 10:47 am
In a stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir at least 12 people lost their lives and dozen got injured. Due to heavy rush of devotees stampede occurred in early hours of Saturday near gate number three outside the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine atop Trikuta hills.
To mark the beginning of New Year several devotees came to pay their obeisance at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, reportedly.
J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today said that a high-level probe has been ordered into the stampede at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. Manoj Sinha expressed grief over the loss of lives in a stampede at the Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan in Katra and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh each for the next of kin of those who died and Rs.2 lakh to injured and added that Shrine board will bear the cost of the treatment of the injured.
J&K police chief Dilbag Singh told to Hindustan Times that stampede at Vaishno Devi shrine took place because of an argument among the devotees. Further added that incident occurred around 2:45 am, and as per initial reports, an argument broke out which resulted in people pushing each other, followed by the stampede.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and said that he had spoken to J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Union ministers Jitendra Singh and Nityanand Rai to keep a check on the situation.
Prime Minister also announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from Prime Minister National Relief Fund to the next of kin of those who lost their lives and Rs. 50,000 for the injured.
