Picture : Twitter / ANI
In a major tragedy in the first day of New Year 2022 at at least 12 people died and over a dozen were injured in a stampede at the famous Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir triggered by a heavy rush of devotees in the early hours of Saturday, officials said.
Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbag Singh told PTI that preliminary information from the scene suggests there was a minor altercation among some young boys, and within seconds, there was a stampede situation.
“Police and officials of 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 said.
The stampede occurred around 2.30 am near gate number three outside the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine located atop the Trikuta hills, about 50 km from Jammu.
Condolences poured in from all quarters, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Manoj Sinha and Union ministers Jitendra Singh and Nityanand Rai to take stock of the situation.
Sinha has ordered a high-level inquiry.
‘Extremely saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon,’ Modi tweeted.
Extremely saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. Spoke to JK LG Shri @manojsinha_ Ji, Ministers Shri @DrJitendraSingh Ji, @nityanandraibjp Ji and took stock of the situation.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 1, 2022
Vaishno Devi yatra however despite the tragedy soon resumed.
