- Friday, February 21, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
THE year 2022 started on a sad note as at least 12 people lost their lives while 20 others were injured in a stampede at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in the northern Indian union territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir which was triggered by a heavy rush of devotees, officials on Saturday (1) said.
The tragedy took place in the early hours of Saturday near gate No.3 of the popular shrine, outside the sanctum sanctorum of the site atop Trikuta Hills, located about 50 kilometres from Jammu, the UT’s winter capital.
The stampede took place due to a heavy rush of visitors who came to pay their obeisance to mark the beginning of the new year, the officials added.
Devotees to Vaishno Devi generally trek to the hilltop shrine from the Katara base camp, a distance of nearly 13 kilometres, while some take a helicopter flight.
A probe was ordered into the incident by Jammu and Kashmir’s lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha.
Indian president Ram Nath Kovind said he was very distressed to learn about the incident. “Very distressed to know that an unfortunate stampede claimed lives of devotees at Mata Vaishno Devi Bhavan. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I wish speedy recovery to those injured,” he said in a tweet. “I wish speedy recovery to those injured,” he added.
Very distressed to know that an unfortunate stampede claimed lives of devotees at Mata Vaishno Devi Bhavan. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I wish speedy recovery to those injured.
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 1, 2022
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi condoled the deaths and said he spoke to Sinha and central ministers Jitendra Singh and Nityanand Rai to take stock of the situation.
“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,” Modi tweeted.
Greetings to our energetic Cabinet colleague Shri @JM_Scindia Ji. He is vigorously transforming India’s aviation sector including boosting connectivity, furthering reforms and ‘Ease of Living.’ Praying for his long and healthy life in service of the people.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 1, 2022
The prime minister’s office (PMO) said the prime minister announced an ex gratia of rupees two lakh (£1,984) each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund to the kin of those who were killed in the stampede. The injured would be given Rs 50,000 (£496), it added.
In a tweet, the PMO said, “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.”
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
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 1, 2022
The office of the lieutenant governor Sinha said in a series of tweets, “Deeply pained at the loss of lives due to stampede at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine. My condolences to the families of the deceased & prayers with the injured.
“Spoke to Hon’ble Home Minister Shri Amit Shah Ji. Briefed him about the incident. A high level inquiry has been ordered into today’s stampede. The Inquiry Committee will be headed by Principal Secretary (Home) with ADGP, Jammu and Divisional Commissioner, Jammu as members,” it said.
Senior officials and shrine board representatives are on the spot.
Officials said the bodies of the dead were shifted to a hospital in Katara base camp for identification and other legal formalities. They said conditions of four of the 20 injured were “critical”.
They added that the shrine was continuing to be operational and people were paying obeisance till the last reports came in.
