The Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 25,000 each to the next of kin of the deceased. The yatra, which was stopped following the stampede, has resumed.
At least twelve pilgrims have died and over a dozen others injured in a stampede at Jammu and Kashmir’s Mata Vaishno Devi shrine at around 3 am on Saturday.
Thirteen people have sustained serious injuries and are undergoing treatment at the Narayana Super Speciality Hospital. They are reported to be in a critical condition. Eight of the deceased have been identified so far — Dheeraj Kumar (26), Shweta Singh (35), Vinay Kumar (24), Sonu Pandey (24), Mamta (38), Dharamveer Singh (35), Vaneet Kumar (38), and Dr Arun Pratap Singh (30).
According to sources, the stampede took place after the police resorted to mild lathicharge to control a huge rush of people at the Bhawan area. The sources added that more 25,000 were allowed to leave Katra and proceed towards the holy shrine.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has ordered a high-level inquiry, headed by the Principal Secretary Home and including ADGP Jammu, into the incident.
An ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh each would be given to the next of kin of the deceased and the shrine board would bear the cost of treatment those injured.
Expressing his condolences, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday: “An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of those who lost their lives due to the stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan. The injured would be given Rs 50,000.”
The Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has also announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 25,000 each to the next of kin of the deceased. The yatra, which was stopped following the stampede, has resumed.