Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday announced a slew of measures to ensure the safety of pilgrims visiting the Vaishno Devi Temple in Jammu and Kashmir’s Katra.
In a series of tweets, the Office of J&K LG said that in a meeting chaired by him with the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, it was decided that steps including decongestion of the entire track, appropriate use of technology for effective crowd and queue management, and radio frequency identification (RFID) tracking shall be installed. The LG in a tweet said, “Steps including decongestion of the entire track, appropriate use of technology for effective crowd and queue management, RFID Tracking to be put in place. Members of the Board to monitor the implementation,”
Sinha further announced an additional ex-gratia amount of Rs 5 lakh for the next of kin (NoK) of the pilgrims who lost their lives in the Vaishno Devi stampede that claimed the lives of 12 pilgrims and left several others injured on Saturday.
The Office of J&K LG tweeted, “Chaired a meeting of SMVD Shrine Board. Several decisions have been taken to ensure the safety of pilgrims. Besides Rs 10 lakh announced as an ex-gratia, an additional amount of Rs 5 lakh is to be given to the NoK of the pilgrims who lost their lives in the unfortunate tragic incident.”
It added, “Directions issued for physical and systematic improvements wherever required after critical examination, augmentation of infrastructure, online booking to be made 100%.”
Earlier in the day, Divisional Commissioner Jammu Raghav Langer, probing the Mata VaishnoDevi stampede incident issued a public notice stating that those desiring to submit any evidence or facts may appear before the enquiry committee either online or in-person by 5 January.
“It is for the information of the general public that any person who desires to furnish any facts, statements, electronic evidence etc. regarding the said incident; may share the same on the email id: divcomjmu-jk@nic.in or Whatsapp No: 09419202723 or Landline No: 0191-2478996 by or before 05-01-2022,” the notice stated. “Any person who desires to meet in person, may appear before the said Enquiry Committee in person between 11:00 am to 01:00 pm on 05-01-2022 in the Office of Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Rail Head Complex, Panama Chowk; to furnish any statements/ facts/ evidence,” the public notice added.
The stampede took place at around 2.15 am near gate number 3 at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan. Police said that as per initial reports, an argument broke out which resulted in people pushing each other, followed by the stampede.