Press Trust of India

Union minister Jitendra Singh visits injured devotees

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Jammu: Union minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday visited devotees injured in a stampede at the famous Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district, officials said.
At least 12 people, including two women, died and over a dozen were injured in the stampede at the shrine atop the Trikuta hills triggered by a heavy rush of devotees in the early hours of the day, the said.
Singh, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, was accompanied by Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbag Singh during his visit to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital at Kakriyal.
He enquired about the condition of the devotees undergoing treatment at the facility, the officials said.
Of the 15 injured admitted to the hospital, the condition of two was stated to be critical, while four people were discharged.
The minister interacted with the injured pilgrims and was also briefed by the doctors, the officials said.
He said that innovative measures are required to deal with the trend of youngsters visiting the Vaishno Devi shrine on New Year.
“A probe has been ordered by the (J&K) government. Police have taken adequate measures, but we will discuss what else can be done (for safety of pilgrims),” the minister told reporters at the hospital after inquiring about the health of the injured devotees.
Jitendra Singh, who was accompanied by Jammu & Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbag Singh, said in the past few years, a trend has started with a large number of young people preferring to come for the Yatra on the first day of the year.
“Traditionally, devotees used to come on festival days like Navratras, Dussehra and Deepavali. But this is a new trend, and we have to take measures accordingly,” he said, adding, “We will talk about innovation and technology to find some solution to this.”
The minister said online ‘darshan’, LED screens for ‘Aarti’ (prayers) and other similar measures already in practice at the Tirupati Balaji temple could be replicated here for better management.
“When there is heavy rush and people are eager to visit and take part in the prayers on the same day of the New Year, such measures could be very useful,” he said, and suggested a sustained campaign and counselling for pilgrims.
Singh said sometimes, the administration faces problems when there is much enthusiasm among devotees, and there is also a border line for the restrictions.
Expressing happiness that the injured pilgrims are now stable, the minister said six people are admitted in the intensive care unit and four in general ward.
“Six of them are ready to get discharged, and the condition of the remaining injured is also stable. This is the happy part of this tragic incident, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is monitoring the situation and is in regular touch with officers concerned,” Singh said.
Earlier, the minister interacted with the injured pilgrims and was also briefed by doctors, officials said.
The DGP said most of the deaths took place because of suffocation and people running over each other.
“Most of the injuries are also due to the same reason,” he said, adding the crowd was managed very well by the people deployed on the ground.
J&K BJP president Ravinder Raina and senior party leaders Devender Singh Rana and Surjeet Singh Slathia besides an Apni Party delegation led by its senior vice president and former minister Ghulam Hassan Mir separately visited the hospital and the Katra base camp nearby, they added.
J&K BJP president Ravinder Raina and senior party leaders Devender Singh Rana and Surjeet Singh Slathia separately visited the hospital and the Katra base camp nearby, they added.


Press Trust of India

Press Trust of India is lead news agency of India

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