After 12 people died in a stampede at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu, officials have said that a scuffle between two groups led to the situation in which over a dozen were also injured.
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.
Senior officials present at the scene said 12 people died in the stampede and their bodies have been taken to a hospital in the Katra base camp for identification.
Fifteen injured were undergoing treatment at the Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, and the condition of two of them was stated to be critical. Some were discharged after first-aid, they added.
Aditya Sharma, a pilgrim, said there was a heavy rush of devotees and some people who were sleeping on the floor got crushed.
Eight of the deceased were identified as Arun Pratab Singh (30), Dharam Veer Singh (35), Vineet Kumar (38) and Shamta Singh (35) of Uttar Pradesh, Vinay Kumar (24) and Sonu Panday (24) of Delhi, Mamta (38) of Haryana and Desraj Kumar (26) of Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, the officials said, adding the identities of the rest are yet to be ascertained.
They said the shrine was open, and as per last reports, devotees were paying obeisance.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announced an ex gratia grant for the victims.
“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: PM @narendramodi,” the PMO tweeted.
Political parties in Kashmir, including the National Conference and the People’s Conference, expressed grief over the incident.
The PDP said such mismanagement has been unheard of in recent times. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families who lost their loved ones & pray for speedy recovery of the injured, it said in a tweet.
Officials at the spot said the incident was triggered by a heavy rush of devotees who came to pay their obeisance to mark the beginning of the New Year.