Jammu: At least 12 people were killed and 13 were injured in a stampede, triggered by heavy rush of devotees on New Year's Day, at the famous Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Saturday.
The stampede happened shortly after midnight.
Senior officials and shrine board representatives are on the spot.
Hospital and police sources said at least 20 people were injured in the stampede and were taken to hospitals, including Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality hospital, and the condition of some of the injured was stated to be "serious".
"The incident occurred around 2:45 am, and as per initial reports, an argument broke out which resulted in people pushing each other, followed by stampede", J&K DGP Dilbagh Singh told ANI.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the deaths occured in the stampede in Jammu and Kashmir's Katra. The Prime Minister also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the next of kin of those who have lost their lives. And Rs 50,000 each to those injured.
