Twelve pilgrims die, dozens injured in stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine

Twelve pilgrims die, dozens injured in stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine

J&K LG announces Rs 10 lakh Ex-gratia to NOK’s of deceased, 2 lakh for injured

Jammu, 01 Jan (PTK):On the eve of New Year atleast twelve pilgrims have died and dozen others were injured in a stampede triggered by a huge rush of devotees at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.

Sources told Press Trust Of Kashmir (PTK) that the incident happened in Mata Vaishno devi temple at around 2:40 AM, when a huge number of devotes come to pay their obeisance to mark the beginning of the New Year.

In the incident at least 12 pilgrims have died and dozen others were injured after the stampede broke out.

Soon after the incident, Police immediately started a rescue operations and shifted all the injured pilgrims to hospital, where condition of some injured pilgrims is said to be critical.

Meanwhile the Lieutenant Governor of J&K, Manoj Sinha wrote on his official twitter handle ‘office of LG J&K’ that Deeply pained at the loss of lives due to stampede at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine. My condolences to the families of the deceased & prayers with the injured.

He said that he spoke with the Prime Minister and “briefed him about the incident.” He further announced that an amount of Rs10 lakh each would be given to the families of those who lost their lives in the stampede and Rs 2 lakh to those injured. He also stated that the shrine board will bear the cost of treatment.(PTK).