At least 12 dead, several injured following stampede at Vaishno Devi shrine

At least twelve pilgrims have died and 15 others injured following a stampede at Jammu and Kashmir’s Mata Vaishno Devi shrine at around 3 am on Saturday. This is the first time a stampede has happened at the shrine.

Sources said that an altercation between two groups of devotees at the shrine complex had led to the stampede situation. About 50,000 people had gathered at the place which has a capacity of accommodating not more than 20,000 people.

Eyewitnesses said that situation aggravated after a few policemen resorted to mild lathi charge to control the situation.

Fifteen people had sustained injuries, 13 serious ones, and were taken to the Narayana Super Specialty Hospital. Two have been discharged following treatment. Eight of the deceased have been identified so far — Dheeraj Kumar (26), Shweta Singh (35), Vinay Kumar (24), Sonu Pandey (24), Mamta (38), Dharamveer Singh (35), Vaneet Kumar (38), and Dr. Arun Pratap Singh (30).

While one is a local from Jammu and Kashmir’s Nowshera area in Rajouri district, the others are from Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident. A three-member team, led by Principal Secretary Home and including the Divisional Commissioner and Additional DGP of Jammu, has been constituted.

Sinha, who is also the chairperson of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, announced an ex-gratis of Rs.10 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs.2 lakh each for the injured.

Sources said that the Shrine Board had officially issued 35,000 yatra parchis (slips) which is mandatory for undertaking a pilgrimage on the Vaishno Devi track.

Expressing his condolences, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday: “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.”