A heavy surge in devotees visiting a temple in Jammu & Kashmir on the first day of New Year lead way to a stampede, and resulted in 12 people getting killed due to that with many feared as injured.
The incident happened in Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine on Saturday at J&K. The Hindu reported “The stampede occurred near gate number three outside the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine atop Trikuta hills.” The bodies of the deceased have been sent to a hospital in the Katra base camp for identification and other legal formalities.
Expressing his condolences, the Prime Minister Narendra 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.”
Sources reported that the PM has announced a solatium of Rs. 2 lakh each to the next of kin of those who lost their lives due to the stampede and Rs.50,000 for the injured.