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At least 12 people were killed and 15 injured in a stampede at a famous Hindu shrine in India-controlled Kashmir, officials said.
The early morning crowd came at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine as thousands gathered to celebrate the start of the new year.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences in a Twitter message, saying he was “deeply saddened by the loss of life”.
Photo: Thousands of worshipers were making a pilgrimage to the site. Pic: AP
Initial reports indicated that a quarrel between a group of worshipers led to the crush.
An eyewitness, who gave the name of Mahesh, said: “Something happened near one of the gates and I found myself in the middle of a crowd.
“I choked and fell but somehow managed to stand up.
“I saw people moving over the corpses.
“It was a terrifying sight, but I was able to help save some of the wounded.”
Another tired named Brianch, who arrived with 10 friends from New Delhi on Friday night, said two of them died in the stampede.
Very sad for the loss of life due to the stampede at Mata Vaishnu Devi Bhawan. Condolences to the families of the victims. I hope the patient recovers soon. He spoke to JK LG Shrimanojsinha_ Ji and Ministers ShriDrJitendraSingh Ji and nityanandraibjp Ji and they assessed the situation.
– Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) Jan 1, 2022
Police chief Dilbagh Singh was quoted by the Press Trust of India news agency as saying that the authorities responded quickly and that order was restored within the crowd immediately.
Officials said the pilgrimage resumed nearly four hours later, and the investigation is still ongoing.
The hilltop temple is one of the most visited attractions in North India.
The incident comes after a 2013 stampede in the central state of Madhya Pradesh when pilgrims visiting a temple for a Hindu festival trampled each other amid fears that a bridge had collapsed, crushing at least 115 people to death or dying in the river below.
In 2011, more than 100 Hindu devotees died in a stampede at a religious ceremony in the southern state of Kerala.
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