Katra. On the occasion of the new year, 12 people died in a stampede in the crowd of devotees who reached the darshan of Maa Vaishno Devi on Saturday morning. The treatment of the injured in the accident is going on at Narayana Hospital. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the accident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund and Rs 50,000 for the injured to the families of those who lost their lives in the stampede. Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of those killed in the stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan in Katra and Rs 2 lakh to the injured.
Jammu and Kashmir DGP Dilbag Singh said, “The incident took place around 2:45 am and as per initial reports an argument broke out as a result of which people pushed each other and then a stampede broke out.”
Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah expressed grief
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Extremely saddened by the loss of lives in the stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan. Condolences to the bereaved families. Spoke to Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Union Minister Jitendra Singh and Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai ji and took stock of the situation. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also expressed grief over the accident at Mata Vaishno Devi temple. He said, ‘Heart is deeply pained by this tragic accident. I have spoken to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha ji. The administration is working continuously to provide treatment to the injured. I express my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the accident.
The information about the accident was given this morning from the Reasi Police Control Room. According to officials, the accident took place due to overcrowding of devotees at Trikuta Parvat. As soon as the information was received, senior officials and board representatives reached there.
Dr Gopal Dutt, Block Medical Officer of Community Health Center said that the deceased devotees are from Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. He had confirmed 6 deaths in the first stampede.
Dr Gopal Dutt said, ‘So far 6 bodies have come to us. But we don’t have exact data yet. Post-mortem of 6 dead bodies will be done and those who are injured are being treated at Narayana Hospital, the number of injured has not been confirmed yet.
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