At least 12 pilgrims died and 14 were injured on Saturday in a stampede at a popular Hindu shrine in India's Jammu and Kashmir state.
Officials said the stampede at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine was triggered by a massive rush of devotees wanting to pay obeisance on the first day of the new year.
The Vaishno Devi shrine dedicated to a mother goddess is located at a hill top in the Kathua region of Jammu. It draws a few thousand devotees daily despite an arduous climb.
A huge number of devotees had entered the complex leading to the cave-shrine without permission slips leading to the stampede, a local police official said. The entry of pilgrims to the narrow space is regulated by these slips.
Twelve pilgrims had died in the stampede and 14 were injured. Police immediately launched rescue operations and all the injured have been admitted to hospital, the official said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was taking stock of the situation in a Twitter post.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said a high-level probe had been ordered into the accident.
The government will pay compensation of 1 million rupees (13,420 dollars) to the next of kin of the dead and 200,000 rupees each to the injured.
Source: DPA
