Vaishno Devi Stampede | 12 Dead, Several Injured In J&K As Crowds Swelled On New Year

Around 12 devotees have died and over a dozen others wounded in a stampede at Jammu Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.

Here’s all you need to know about the incident in 10 points.

1. According to officials the stampede was triggered by a massive rush of devotees on the new year. The incident took place outside the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine on Trikuta hills asa large number of devotees had gathered at the shrine to pay their obeisance to mark the new year.

2.In a series of tweets Lt Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha said that 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.

He also added that a high-level inquiry has been ordered into the stampede.

“Spoke to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji. Briefed him about the incident. Hon’ble Prime Minister has assured all the help. 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.”

3. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh has rushed to Katra in Jammu and Kashmir to take stock of the situation. In a tweet, he said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi 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.

4.  Some of the survivors blamed the Vaishno Devi authority for ‘mismanagement’ as a sudden rush of devotees at the Vaishno Devi shrine  triggered the stampede that resulted in the death of 12 people.

However, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board denied the survivors’ allegation and stated that all necessary arrangements were made in view of the expected rush.

5. Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbag Singh said on Saturday that a minor altercation among some young boys led to the stampede at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in which 12 people “unfortunately” died.

“”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 added.

6. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh reached the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital at Kakriyal to visit the injured devotees. He was accompanied by Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbag Singh during the visit.

7. In a bid to review the current situation and oversee adherence to Covid-19 protocols, two members of the Vaishno Devi shrine stampede inquiry committee reached Katra.