Katra (J&K): Twelve persons were killed and 15 others injured in a stampede that occurred at Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra on Saturday morning. An official from the police control room in Reasi town said a stampede had occurred at Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan in which 12 people lost their lives and 15 others were injured.
“The condition of people who have been admitted are now stable. We may add some technical solutions for the yatra. Earlier people use to visit the shrine during festivals, nowadays youngsters want to visit shrine on first day of the year, “ Union Minister Jitendra Singh told reporters after visiting the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital where people injured in the stampede were undergoing treatment.
Singh was accompanied by Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbag Singh during his visit to the hospital where he enquired about the condition of those undergoing treatment.
The stampede, according to J&K DGP Dilbagh Singh, occurred at 2:45 am when a 'minor altercation' broke out among some young boys which resulted in people pushing each other. There was a heavy rush of devotees at the shrine on New Year's Day.
"12 died in the stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra. Casualties are from Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and 1 from J&K. The injured were shifted to Naraina Hospital after the rescue," said Dr Gopal Dutt, Block Medical Officer, Community Health Centre, Reasi. The condition of some of the injured was stated to be serious.
"Police and officials from the civil administration were quick to respond, and the order within the crowd was immediately restored, but by that time, the damage had been done," he said. "Immediately the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals," the police chief said.
Now to ascertain the lapses, a three-member panel has been set up to probe the stampede. The Panel constituted by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and headed by the principal secretary (home) has been asked to submit its report to the Jammu and Kashmir government within a week.
A woman from Ghaziabad died in the stamped said Ghaziabad District Magistrate Rajesh Kumar. He also said that she was accompanied by her husband and another woman relative.
As per the information, a total of four people from Ghaziabad visited the shire, the deceased woman identified as Shweta Singh a resident of Ghaziabad's, sector-5 Vasundhara, her husband Vikrant Singh and another woman relative. The fourth person is told to be safe and fine.
As the family member received the information of the unfortunate incident, they immediately left for Vaishno-Devi. While the SHO Indrapuram police station said "All possible assistance will be provided to the family, however till now no one from police side has established a contact with the family.
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, which manages the operations at the shrine, confirmed that 12 pilgrims had lost their lives and 15 others were injured in the incident.
Jammu and Kashmir Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha has ordered a high-level inquiry into the stampede and briefed Home Minister Amit Shah about the incident.
President, Prime Minister, Home Minister, and other key political leaders offered condolences to the bereaved families and wished speedy recovery to the injured.
President Ram Nath Kovind said he was very distressed to know that about the unfortunate stampede. He offered heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
"I wish speedy recovery to those injured," the president said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was saddened by the loss of lives and had spoken to LG Sinha among others.
"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 Manoj Sinha ji, ministers Shri Dr Jitendra Singh Ji, Nityanand Rai Ji and took stock of the situation," the PM tweeted.
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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, 2022 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">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, 2022Extremely 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, 2022
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed grief over the loss of lives.
Shah tweeted in Hindi, "Deeply pained by the tragic accident at Mata Vaishno Devi Temple. I have spoken to Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. The administration is working continuously to provide treatment to the injured people. I express my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this accident."
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माता वैष्णो देवी मंदिर में हुई दुखद दुर्घटना से हृदय अत्यंत व्यथित है। इस संबंध में मैंने J&K के उपराज्यपाल श्री मनोज सिन्हा जी से बात की है। प्रशासन घायलों को उपचार पहुँचाने के लिए निरंतर कार्यरत है। इस हादसे में जान गँवाने वाले लोगों के परिजनों के प्रति संवेदना व्यक्त करता हूँ।
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) January 1, 2022 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">माता वैष्णो देवी मंदिर में हुई दुखद दुर्घटना से हृदय अत्यंत व्यथित है। इस संबंध में मैंने J&K के उपराज्यपाल श्री मनोज सिन्हा जी से बात की है। प्रशासन घायलों को उपचार पहुँचाने के लिए निरंतर कार्यरत है। इस हादसे में जान गँवाने वाले लोगों के परिजनों के प्रति संवेदना व्यक्त करता हूँ।
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) January 1, 2022माता वैष्णो देवी मंदिर में हुई दुखद दुर्घटना से हृदय अत्यंत व्यथित है। इस संबंध में मैंने J&K के उपराज्यपाल श्री मनोज सिन्हा जी से बात की है। प्रशासन घायलों को उपचार पहुँचाने के लिए निरंतर कार्यरत है। इस हादसे में जान गँवाने वाले लोगों के परिजनों के प्रति संवेदना व्यक्त करता हूँ।
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) January 1, 2022
Singh tweeted, "The tragedy due to a stampede at Mata Vaishno Bhawan is heart-wrenching. Anguished by the loss of lives due to it. My condolences to the bereaved families in this sad hour. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured."
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also expressed condolences over the incident.
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माता वैष्णोदेवी मंदिर में हुई भगदड़ की दुर्घटना दुखद है।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 1, 2022 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
मृतकों के परिवारजनों को मेरी शोक संवेदनाएँ। घायलों के जल्द स्वस्थ होने की कामना है।
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">माता वैष्णोदेवी मंदिर में हुई भगदड़ की दुर्घटना दुखद है।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 1, 2022
मृतकों के परिवारजनों को मेरी शोक संवेदनाएँ। घायलों के जल्द स्वस्थ होने की कामना है।
🙏माता वैष्णोदेवी मंदिर में हुई भगदड़ की दुर्घटना दुखद है।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 1, 2022
मृतकों के परिवारजनों को मेरी शोक संवेदनाएँ। घायलों के जल्द स्वस्थ होने की कामना है।
🙏
"Deeply pained by the unfortunate accident that took place in Mata Vaishno Devi Dham. May Maa Adishakti grant peace to the souls of those who died in the accident and speedy recovery to those injured in the accident. My condolences are with the bereaved families," UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath tweeted in Hindi.
"Spoke to Hon'ble Home Minister Shri Amit Shah Ji. Briefed him about the incident. A high-level inquiry has been ordered into today's stampede. The Inquiry Committee will be headed by Principal Secretary (Home) with ADGP, Jammu and Divisional Commissioner, Jammu as members", Sinha said on his official Twitter handle.
"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," the LG added.
Meanwhile, the registration at Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan resumed hours after the stampede incident.
The yatra (pilgrimage) to the holy shrine was suspended for a short while after the incident.
The cave shrine is situated at an altitude of 5,200 feet in the Reasi district and generally attracts close to a million devotees every year.
The operations of the pilgrimage site are managed by the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, which provides battery car and ropeway services to the pilgrims to reach the top of Trikuta hills for darshan.
Read: Vaishno Devi stampede: Ex-gratia of Rs 12 lakh for kin of deceased
