At least 12 people died in a stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in J&K on Saturday in the early hours. As confirmed by the officials, the stampede was triggered by a massive rush of devotees who had come to pay their obeisance to mark the beginning of the New Year. It was reported that the chaos raised with the devotees entering the shrine without permission slips.
The police said that rescue operations started immediately and all the injured have been taken to hospitals, where the condition of some is stated to be “serious”. 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 treating those injured.