12 dead in a stampede at Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu

Jammu: At least 12 people , most of them devotees have died and over a dozen others injured in a stampede at Jammu Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. The stampede was triggered by a massive rush of devotees who had thronged to the shrine on new year.

Official added that the incident occurred outside the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine on Trikuta hills.

They said a large number of devotees had gathered at the shrine to pay their obeisance to mark the new year.

Official sources say a large number of devotees entered the Vaishno Devi Bhawan without permission slips.

They confirmed the death of 12 devotees adding over a dozen pilgrims are injured and have been shifted to hospital.

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh in a tweet said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is personally monitoring and keeping track of the tragic situation arising out of stampede at Mata #VaishnoDevi shrine.

PM has conveyed his sympathies to bereaved families and issued instructions to provide all possible medical aid & assistance to the injured.