Jammu, At least 12 devotees have died and over a dozen others injured in a stampede at Katra Jammu’s Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. The stampede was triggered by a massive rush of devotees, officials said today.
Official added that the incident occurred outside the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine on Trikuta hills.
They said a large number of devotees had gathered at the shrine to pay their obeisance to mark the new year.
An official told news agency Kashmir News Trust that due to massive rush, a large number of devotees entered the Vaishno Devi Bhawan without permission slips.
He confirmed the death of 12 devotees adding over a dozen pilgrims are injured and have been shifted to hospital.
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh in a tweet 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.
Prime Minister’s Office announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from PMNRF to the next of kin of those who lost their lives due to the stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan in Katra. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000, the PM office said. (KNT)