Twelve pilgrims were killed and 14 others injured in a stampede at the Vaishnodevi temple in Jammu and Kashmir. Officials said the stampede was caused by a huge crowd of devotees.
The incident took place outside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple located on the Trikuta hills.
The incident took place around 2.45 am. Officials said the stampede took place when a large crowd of devotees had gathered at the Vaishnodevi Bhavan on the eve of the New Year. Senior officials and temple board representatives arrived at the scene and confirmed that 12 pilgrims were killed and at least 14 were injured in the stampede.
The official said, “All the injured have been rushed to a nearby hospital where the condition of many of the injured is said to be critical. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the incident and has spoken to Vice-Governor Manoj Sinha and Union Ministers Jitendra Singh and Nityanand Rai to take stock of the situation.
Prime Minister Modi has announced Rs 2-2 lakh from the National Relief Fund for close relatives of those who lost their lives in the stampede and Rs 50,000 for all the injured. Vice-Governor Manoj Sinha has also announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased. The lieutenant governor’s office also announced that all the injured would be treated by the Shrine Board.
