LG Sinha for appropriate use of technology for crowd, queue mgmt

The meeting was convened in the backdrop of an unfortunate incident of stampede that occurred at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan in the intervening night of December 31, 2021 and January 1, 2022.

Raj Bhawan spokesman said that the Lt Governor, who is also the Chairman of SMVDSB, critically reviewed the causative factors leading to the stampede incident and the various steps taken immediately thereafter by the management of Shrine Board.

The Board directed the Chief Executive Officer, Shrine Board for taking urgent action on diverse fronts including effective crowd management, augmentation of infrastructure, making booking of yatra 100 percent through online mode; working out plans for decongestion of the entire track, particularly the Bhawan area, separation of entry and exit routes at Bhawan.

The Board appreciated the commendable post-incident efforts of Shrine Board, District Administration and Police Personnel towards the quick rescue and timely shifting of injured to Shrine Board’s Hospital at Kakryal.

The Board felt that as a consequence of these efforts, a number of lives were saved. The board was briefed by the CEO Shrine Board that 35,000 pilgrims were allowed to proceed for the Yatra on December 31 and January 01 as against the National Green Tribunal’s cap of 50,000 a day, keeping in view the pandemic.

While reviewing the status of release of compensation amount to the victims, the Board decided to provide an additional amount of Rs.5 lakhs each to the next of kin of the pilgrims who lost their lives in the unfortunate tragic incident. An ex-gratia of Rs.10 lakhs was already announced by the Lt Governor on January 01.
A slew of directives were issued for physical and systematic improvements wherever required after critical examination.

The Board directed the CEO for making concerted efforts towards early implementation of the Master Plan for the Bhawan area in a phased manner strictly in accordance to the timelines and also reiterated for expediting construction work and early completion of Durga Bhawan for the pilgrims.

Directions were issued for carrying out required improvisations in 2nd and 3rd Phase of Master Plan to take care of all foreseen challenges.

The Board discussed the modalities for suspension bridge and skywalk for effective queue management, besides identifying more halting spots to cater to large crowd at Bhawan and Katra.
The Board also considered various suggestions for making requisite improvements that can be carried out to safeguard against similar mishaps in future.

Discussions were also held on exploring possibilities of ropeway from Katra for the aged and infirm pilgrims.
The CEO was asked to consider resumption of the token/group number system that was discontinued six years ago. The Board also directed for early undertaking of an exercise for critically examining the safety audit of physical infrastructure and fire safety at main Bhawan, shopping complex and other important areas.

The Members of the Shrine Board will monitor the implementation of directions and works to be undertaken.
Dr. Ashok Bhan; Justice (Retd) Permod Kohli; Maj. Gen (Retd) S.K. Sharma; K.K. Sharma; K.B Kachru and Vijay Dhar- Members of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, and Ramesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB attended the meeting.

Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary and Nitishwar Kumar, Principal Secretary to Lt Governor were special invitees to the meeting.

Meanwhile Divisional Commissioner Jammu Raghav Langer, probing Mata Vaishno Devi stampede incident, has issued a public notice stating that those desiring to submit any evidence or facts may appear before the enquiry committee either online or in-person by January 5.

“It is for the information of the general public that any person who desires to furnish any facts, statements, electronic evidence etc. regarding the said incident; may share the same on the email id: [email protected] or WhatsApp No: 09419202723 or Landline No: 0191-2478996 by or before 05-01-2022,” the notice stated.
“Any person who desires to meet in person, may appear before the said Enquiry Committee in person between 11:00 am to 01:00 pm on 05-01-2022 in the Office of Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Rail Head Complex, Panama Chowk; to furnish any statements/ facts/ evidence,” it added.

A three-member panel has been set up by Jammu and Kashmir government to probe the stampede incident at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. The panel is required to give its report within a week, as per an official order.
However, pilgrims thronged the temple for the ‘darshan’ following “stricter” guidelines of the authorities.
Concerns were raised over the unfortunate accident that took place in the early hours of Saturday morning.
A pilgrim, Gaurav Ahuja, from New Delhi, said that the authorities have been stricter for the past two days and urged the devotees to remain in the queue and wait for their turn to get into the shrine.
“Earlier they were not as strict. The public is feeling much better now,” he said.

“I have come with my family for the darshan. We came to know just a day before there was a stampede. So I would urge the devotees to remain in the queue without pushing others so that such circumstances do not arise again,” he added.

Another pilgrim Girish, also from New Delhi, said that the arrangement is good and appealed to the devotees to follow the rules and regulations set by the government for smooth functioning of the shrine.

“The arrangement is quite good like it was earlier. I appeal to the devotees to do darshan of Mata with ease. The people must adhere to the guidelines laid down by the authorities. If the people follow the guidelines, there is always the safety of the pilgrims.”

Vaishno Devi yatra was resumed following a brief suspension after the incident.

The stampede took place at around 2:15 am near gate no 3 at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan. Police said that as per initial reports, an argument broke out, which resulted in people pushing each other, followed by the stampede.

Meanwhile a police probe into the stampede at the Vaishno Devi shrine will go on along with the investigation of a high-powered committee, and action will be taken against those involved in the scuffle that led to the incident, Jammu and Kashmir DGP Dilbag Singh said on Sunday.

The committee headed by Principal Secretary (Home) Shaleen Kabra, with Divisional Commissioner Jammu Rajiv Langar and Additional Director General of Police Mukesh Singh as its members, has been set up by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and has been asked to submit a report within a week.
“The committee constituted would look into the causes that led to the stampede,” Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh said.

Replying to a question whether police will take action if those involved in the scuffle were identified, he said ”yes” and added that ”police would do its work simultaneously”.

He said the government has already set up a three-member committee to inquire into the “unfortunate” incident which was the result of the “irresponsible” behaviour of some people.

One of the members of the committee is a senior police officer under whose jurisdiction the shrine comes.
The DGP was the first who had indicated that the stampede was a result of a scuffle between some people. This was confirmed late night by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.

This is the first such tragedy at the revered shrine located atop the Trikuta hills – about 50 km from here – that attracts lakhs of people every year.

Singh had personally visited the shrine in the aftermath of the stampede on Saturday and reviewed the situation.